1 


THE  HUNTINGTON  LETTERS 


THE    HUNTINGTON 

LETTERS, 

j/y**f&~~Z^,.- 

IN  THE  POSSESSION   OF 
-   JULIA    CHESTER    WELLS 


EDITED   BY 

W.   D.   tycCRACKAN 

MEMBER  OF  THE  AMERICAN  HISTORICAL  ASSOCIATION 
AUTHOR  OF 

"THE  RISE  OF  THE  swiss  REPUBLIC,"  ETC. 


PRINTED  FOR  PRIVATE  DISTRIBUTION 


THE   APPLETON    PRESS 
NEW  YORK,   1897 


E  3.05. 


COPYRIGHT,  1897, 
BY  JULIA  CHESTER  WELLS. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

A  WORD  OF  EXPLANATION    ,  i 


FIRST  PERIOD  (1761-1792)       .       .       .       .11 

Containing  mainly  the  letters  which  passed 
between  the  Hon.  Benjamin  Huntington  and 
his  wife  Anne. 

SECOND  PERIOD  (1796-1798)    .       .       .       .115 

Containing  mainly  the  letters  written  by 
Rachel  Huntington  to  her  sisters,  Lucy  and 
Anne  (Nancy). 

MISCELLANEOUS  LETTERS  AND  DOCUMENTS     173 


THE   HUNTINGTON   LETTERS. 


A  WORD  OF  EXPLANATION. 

THESE  letters  are  contained  in  a  folio 
marked  "  Invoices."  On  the  inside  of  the 
cover  is  pasted  a  slip  of  paper  with  the 
words : 

1856. 

MRS.  FANNY  T.  WELLS. 

Found  among  the  papers  of  her  mother, 

MRS.  R.  TRACY. 

Then  follows  an  engraved  portrait  of 
Judge  Benjamin  Huntington,  member  of 
Congress  from  Connecticut,  1789.  It  is 
the  same  portrait  which  is  to  be  found 
in  "  A  Genealogical  Memoir  of  the  Hunt 
ington  Family,"  by  Rev.  E.  B.  Hunting-, 
ton,  A.  M.,  and  is  painted  by  a  grandson, 


Ijtmtington  Cetters. 


Daniel  HuMdrigjQn,  the  well-known  por 
trait  painter,  and  engraved  by  A.  H. 
Ritchie.  The  words  "from  an  original 
miniature  "  appear  at  the  bottom  of  the 
portrait. 

After  this  come  the  letters,  spread  out  flat, 
but  having  once  been  folded  and  addressed 
in  the  old-fashioned  way,  without  envel 
opes.  The  collection  is  by  no  means  com 
plete,  many  letters  having  been  given  away 
in  course  of  time,  or  scattered  in  such  a 
manner  that  they  can  no  longer  be  traced. 
The  correspondents  are  various  mem 
bers  of  the  family  of  Benjamin  Huntington, 
of  Norwich,  Conn.,  the  period  covered  be 
ing  from  1761  to  1799.  Most  of  the  letters 
passed  between  the  Hon.  Benjamin  Hunt 
ington  himself  and  his  wife  Anne,  when  he 
was  serving  in  the  General  Assembly  of 
Connecticut  at  Hartford,  or  in  the  Con 
tinental  and  United  States  Congresses  at 
Philadelphia,  Princeton,  and  New  York. 
Others  were  written  by  a  daughter,  Rachel 


§muington  Cettcrs. 


Huntington,  when  on  visits  in  New  York, 
Stamford,  and  Rome,  N.  Y.,  to  her  sisters, 
Lucy  and  Anne,  in  Norwich.  There  are 
letters  also  from  the  sons,  George  and 
Benjamin  Huntington.  The  folio,  further 
more,  contains  a  more  or  less  miscellaneous 
collection  of  letters  and  documents,  only  a 
few  of  which  have  been  deemed  of  suffi 
cient  value  for  publication. 

While  it  would  be  too  much  to  claim 
that  these  letters  are  capable  of  arousing 
widespread,  popular  interest,  they  are  nev 
ertheless  of  real  value  to  close  students 
of  American  history,  as  showing  the  life  of 
an  American  family  which  bore  its  part  in 
the  struggles  of  more  than  a  century  ago. 
The  spirit  of  the  Revolutionary  era  per 
vades  them  in  very  truth.  Especially  will 
they  deserve  the  attention  of  the  descend 
ants  and  family  friends  of  the  persons  men 
tioned  in  the  following  correspondence. 
In  fact,  it  is  for  the  sake  of  this  compara 
tively  small  group  of  readers  that  Miss 


Iptmtington  betters. 


Wells  now  desires  to  publish  the  Hunting- 
ton  Letters. 

At  her  request  I  have  undertaken  to 
add  a  word  of  explanation,  without,  how 
ever,  attempting  to  annotate  more  than  a 
few  of  the  many  names  of  persons  which 
occur  in  these  pages.  It  has  been  my  ob 
ject  to  reproduce  these  letters  as  much  as 
possible  in  their  original  condition — to  let 
them  tell  their  own  story,  and  not  to 
edit  away  their  peculiarities.  For  this 
reason  I  have  retained  their  vagaries  of 
spelling;  have  refrained  from  supplying 
punctuation,  even  when  it  seemed  much 
needed  ;  nor  have  I  ventured  to  cut  down 
religious  effusions,  conventional  precepts, 
harrowing  descriptions  of  bodily  ailments, 
or  pretty  phrases  of  courtesy ;  these  are 
touches  of  the  time,  and  throw  light  on 
social  and  economic  conditions. 

The  following  facts  in  regard  to  the 
family  history  are  gleaned  from  the  work 
already  mentioned,  "  A  Genealogical  Mem- 


^mttington  Betters. 


oir  of  the  Huntington  Family  in  this 
Country,"  by  Rev.  E.  B.  Huntington, 
A.  M.,  published  in  Stamford,  Conn., 
1863. 

The  name  of  Huntington  has  been  well 
represented  in  all  the  industrial,  educa 
tional,  military,  civil,  and  religious  move- 
ments  of  the  American  continent  for  more 
than  two  centuries. 

The  common  ancestor  was  a  certain  Si 
mon  Huntington,  a  Puritan  emigrant  from 
England.  A  record  of  the  Roxbury  Church, 
in  the  handwriting  of  its  pastor,  the  Rev. 
John  Eliot,  states  that  Margaret  Hunting- 
ton,  a  widow,  came  to  Roxbury  in  1633; 
that  she  was  a  member  of  the  church  ;  that 

she  had sons  with  her ;  and  that  her 

husband  had  died  on  the  passage,  from  the 
smallpox. 

Margaret  Huntington  remained  about 
two  and  a  half  years  in  Roxbury,  married 
Thomas  Stoughton,  then  of  Dorchester, 
and  with  him,  taking  probably  her  young- 


Cetters. 


est  three  sons,  she  removed  to  Windsor, 
Conn.,  then  a  new  settlement,  where  she 
spent  the  rest  of  her  life. 

Two  of  her  sons,  Christopher  and  Si 
mon,  went  first  to  Say  brook,  and  in  1660 
joined  the  colonists  who  settled  Norwich. 
They  and  their  descendants  at  once  took 
a  foremost  position  there  both  in  church 
and  state. 

Anne  Huntington  was  a  great-grand 
daughter  of  Christopher  ;  Benjamin  Hunt 
ington  a  grandson  of  Simon.  They  were 
thus  second  cousins,  once  removed.  They 
were  married  May  3  or  5,  1765,  she  being 
twenty-five  years  of  age  and  he  twenty- 
nine. 

The  career  of  Benjamin  may  be  summed 
up  as  follows :  He  graduated  from  Yale  in 
1761,  soon  after  entered  upon  the  practice 
of  law  in  Norwich,  and  rose  rapidly  to  the 
front  rank  of  his  profession.  In  1775  he 
was  chosen  by  the  Legislature  of  his  native 
State  on  the  Committee  of  Safety,  ap- 


funtington  Ccttcrs. 


pointed  to  advise  with  the  Governor  of 
the  State  during  the  recess  of  the  Legisla 
ture.  Only  the  ablest  and  truest  patriots 
of  that  trying  day  would  have  been  put 
upon  that  important  committee.  Again, 
in  1778,  on  the  recommendation  of  Wash 
ington,  he  was  appointed  by  the  Legisla 
ture  one  of  that  convention  to  be  held  in 
New  Haven  for  the  regulation  of  the  army. 
From  1780  to  1784,  and  again  in  1787  and 
1788,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Continental 
Congress ;  and  when  the  new  Government 
went  into  operation,  in  1789,  he  was  chosen 
to  represent  Connecticut  in  the  First  Con 
gress  of  the  United  States. 

From  1781  to  1790,  and  also  from  1791 
to  1793,  he  was  a  member  of  the  upper 
house  of  the  Connecticut  Legislature.  On 
the  incorporation  of  Norwich  City,  in  1784, 
he  was  chosen,  for  an  indefinite  period,  its 
first  mayor,  in  which  office  he  served  until 
his  formal  resignation  in  1796.  He  was 
also  appointed  in  1793  a  Judge  of  the  Su- 


fmuington  fitters. 


perior  Court  of  Connecticut,  holding  this 
office  until  1798. 

The  children  of  Benjamin  and  Anne 
Huntington  were  all  born  in  Norwich: 
Henry,  May  28,  1766;  Gurdon,  March  16, 
1768;  George,  June  5,  1770;  Lucy,  Janu 
ary  21,  1773;  Anne  (Nancy),  March  30, 
1775;  Benjamin,  March  19,  1777;  Rachel, 
April  4,  1779;  Daniel,  December,  1781. 

Rachel  married  at  Rome,  N.  Y.,  Janu 
ary  19,  1800,  William  Gedney  Tracy,  a 
merchant  of  Whitestown,  N.  Y.,  who  was 
born  in  Norwich,  Conn.,  November  15, 
1768. 

Their  youngest  child,  Frances  (Fanny), 
married  William  Henry  Wells,  of  Brattle- 
borough,  Vt.,  and  it  is  her  daughter,  Julia 
Chester  Wells,  who  now  desires  the  editor 
to  prepare  for  publication  "  The  Hunting- 
ton  Letters,"  which  are  in  her  possession. 


FIRST   PERIOD. 

1761-1792. 


CONTAINING  MAINLY  THE  LETTERS  WHICH  PASSED 
BETWEEN  THE  HON.  BENJAMIN  HUNTINGTON 
AND  HIS  WIFE  ANNE. 


FIRST   PERIOD. 

1761-1792. 

WHEN  the  correspondence  opens,  Anne  Hunting- 
ton  is  not  yet  married,  and  is  living  with  her  mother 
at  Windham,  Conn.  She  writes  to  her  elder  sister, 
Hannah,  wife  of  Gideon  Tomlinson,  of  Stratford,  Conn., 
an  officer  in  the  army  : 

DEAR  SISTER! 

Our  last  News  from  Stratford  was  by  Mr. 

Chandler    and    then    no    Letter   which    I 

thought    was  cruel   we  are  impatient   to 

hear  from  you  and  hope   Shortly  to  hear 

good  News  thinking  if  any  thing  to   the 

contrary  had    happend  we   Should   have 

heard  from  you  before  now.* 

O   my   Dear   Sister    I    am    with    you    in 

my   thoughts   almost   continually   as   well 

in    my   Sleeping    as   waking    Hours    last 

*  Hannah  Tomlinson's  only  child,  Jabez  Huntington, 
was  born  December  24,  1760.  His  son,  Gideon,  was 
Governor  of  Connecticut  from  1827  to  1831. 

2  II 


Night  I  wakd  my  Self  Talking  to  Sister 
Hannah  &  Lucy  I  fain  would  have  gone 
to  sleep  again  and  Dreamd  on  but  so  great 
was  my  Disappointment  in  finding  all  to 
be  a  Dream  that  I  could  not  compose  my 
Self  to  sleep  for  some  Hours.  I  have  no 
News  except  what  I  have  wrote  to  Sis 
ter  L.  Honrd  Mama  &  all  Friends  at 
Windham  are  in  Health  through  Divine 
Indulgence,  and  Nothing  would  add  more 
to  my  Happiness  than  your  presence 
Mama  Designs  to  hold  you  to  your  Prom- 
iss  of  coming  to  Windham  in  the  Spring 
I  cant  but  Long  for  its  approach  for  if  you 
come  it  will  be  a  Spring  indeed  to  me. 
Pleas  to  give  my  compts.  to  Capn.  Tom- 
linson  tell  him  I  shall  Heartily  Rejoice  to 
see  him  at  Windham  I  Congratulate  him 
&  you  on  his  return  from  the  Champaign  * 


*  The  close  of  the  war  between  England  and  France, 
called  in  the  American  colonies  "  The  Old  French  and  In 
dian  War."  It  ended  with  the  surrender  of  Canada  to 
the  English,  September  8,  1760. 


fnntington  Cetters.  13 


Mama  gives  her  Love  to  you  &  says  she1 
shall  think  you  unkind  if  you  Dont  write 
by  Mr  Ripley  who  Designs  to  make  you 
a  Visit.  Farewell  Dearest  Sister  my  best 
wishes  attend  you  am  your  Affectionate 
Sister  &  Friend 

ANNE  HUNTINGTON 
Windham  14  Janry 
1761. 

P  x  S.  pleas  to  give  mamas 
&  my  regards  to  your  Honrd 
Dadda  &  Mama  Compts  Miss 
Polly.  A  H 

To  MRS  HANNAH  TOMLINSON 


14  ®l)e  fjttntington 


II. 

More  than  thirteen  years  have  elapsed.  Anne 
Huntington,  settled  in  Norwich,  writes  to  her  husband, 
Benjamin  Huntington,  in  Hartford  : 

DEAR  SIR  !  I  recd  your  Second  kind  Let 
ter  Saturday  Evening  which  in  some  meas 
ure  Compensated  for  your  not  returning 
which  I  was  in  great  hopes  of  on  account 
of  what  Brother  W  Wrote  which  he  never 
told  me  of  till  some  days  after  he  wrote 
I  have  partly  wrote  you  two  Letters  but 
throwd  them  by  because  I  had  no  News 
to  write  but  what  would  add  to  your 
Trouble  and  concern  about  me  I  have 
had  a  Melancholly  time  of  it  ever  since 
youv  been  gone  for  twas  but  the  next 
Morning  after  you  went  from  home  I  was 
taken  with  raising  Blood  but  not  to  that 


©l)e  ijuntington  £cttcrs.  15 

Degree  I  did  the  other  turn  the  Doctors 
Still  Speak  incouraging  to  me  and  think 
my  Complaints  rather  of  the  Histerick 
than  Hectick  kind  but  doctors  are  Liable 
to  Mistakes  and  often  Fail  in  their  Judg 
ment  Especially  in  Hectick  disorders  I 
Rest  but  very  111  Nights  Saturday  Night 
had  but  very  little  Sleep  rode  out  with  Na 
than  W  yesterday  and  rested  much  better 
last  Night  and  am  Better  this  Morning  tho 
I  Tremble  and  am  weak  but  have  no 
Cough  and  I  hope  no  setled  Fever  am 
much  discouraged  at  turns  about  my 
Disorder  but  do  not  dispair  of  relief  God 
has  ever  been  Favourable  and  is  ever 
Merciful 

I  trust  Iv  an  Interest  in  your  Prayers 
Dear  Sir  pray  for  me  that  I  may  not 
have  a  False  Hope 

Dont   be   too   much   concernd   about    me 
but  let  us  rest  assured  that  God  will  do 
that  which  is  for  the  Best 
The    Children    are    well    and    send   their 


1 6  (Elje  Ijtmtington  Celtero. 

Duty  the  barer  waits  and  I  can  only  Sub 
scribe  my  Self  most  Affec*?  yours 

ANNE  HUNTINGTON 

Norwich 

Monday  Morning. 
23d  May  1774 

BENJN  HUNTINGTON  Esqr 


17 


III. 

Benjamin  Huntingdon  is  deputy  from  Norwich  to 
the  General  Assembly  of  Connecticut,  in  session  at 
Hartford. 

HARTFORD  Aptil  zgth  1775 
MRS.  HUNTINGTON 

This  is  only  to  let  you  Know  that  I  am 
well  and  hope  to  Come  home  Next  Week 
The  Assembly  is  very  full  of  News  and  a 
Great  Deal  of  Business  but  the  Members 
Sworn  to  Secrecy  therefore  Cannot  In- 
forme  you  of  Any  News  or  thing-  of  Con 
sequence  but  Matters  Do  not  appear  to 
me  to  be  Worse  than  1  Apprehended 
when  I  came  from  home  I  have  Wrote 
to  Mr  Wetmore  Concerning  Mother  Hunt- 
ington  &  Mr  P  Wetmore  and  have  beared 
that  Friends  at  the  Westward  are  well. 


1 8  STIje  Ijuntington  Cetters. 

Mr  Hancock*  from  Boston  arived  here 
today  on  his  way  to  the  Congress — Write 
to  me  by  Every  Opportunity  who  am 

your 

BENJ  HUNTINGTON 

*  Meeting  of  the  Continental  Congress  at  Philadelphia, 
May  10,  1775,  with  John  Hancock  as  President. 


§nntington  fitters.  19 


IV. 

HARTFORD  May  ijth 
MRS    HUNTINGTON 

I  have  the  Pleasure  to  Informe  you  that 
the  Lower  House  have  Determined  Not  to 
Do  any  Private  Disputable  Business  this 
Session  which  will  make  a  Short  Session  & 
I  hope  to  be  at  home  in  Ten  Days  or  a 
fortnight  Please  to  Informe  Capt  Jz  Putnim 
thereof  and  any  others  that  may  Inquire  of 
you  There  is  News  from  New  York  that 
the  Forces  that  are  Coming  are  Destined 
to  New  York  and  that  the  Ships  are  Chief 
ly  Loaden  with  English  Good  &  Agents  on 
Bond  to  Sell  them  to  the  Yorkers  in  Spite 
of  the  Sons  of  Liberty  *  but  they  may 

*  The    term    "  Sons   of    Liberty "  was    first    used   by 
Isaac  Barre,  the  companion  and  friend  of  Wolfe,  sharer  in 


20  ftlje  ^tmtiujgton  Betters. 

find  the  Market  more  Troublesome  than 
they  Expect — I  am  your 

BENJ  HUNTINGTON 

MRS  ANNE  HUNTINGTON 

the  capture  of  Louisburg  and  Quebec,  in  a  speech  which 
he  delivered  in  the  British  Parliament  against  the  Stamp 
Act.  It  was  reported  in  the  American  colonies,  and  at 
once  became  a  household  term  here.  Local  organizations 
were  formed  in  the  different  colonies  under  this  name, 
having  as  their  object  the  practical  nullification  of  the 
odious  Stamp  Act  by  preventing  importations  and  encour 
aging  home  industries. 


^untington  Cetters.  21 


V. 

HARTFORD  May  24th  iff 5 

MRS.  HUNTINGTON,  after  Tenderest  Re 
gards  to  you  I  would  Inform  you  that 
I  am  in  Health  and  hope  to  be  at  home 
this  Week  but  not  before  Saturday  as  I 
must  Come  by  the  Way  of  Middle  Town 
and  you  must  not  be  Concerned  if  I  Don1 
git  home  before  Next  Week — I  hear  Betty 
has  been  sick  but  Bitter  [Better]  am  afraid 
you11  Fatigue  your  Self  with  hard  Work 
without  help  Pray  get  help  and  favr  your 
self  as, 'much  as  you  Can  I  have  no  Great 
Matter  of  News  to  Write  only  that  no 
Tories  are  allowed  to  Sustain  any  Office 
in  the  Colony  five  or  Six  Justices  and 
Capt  Hide  for  one  are  left  out  &  Sundery 
Military  Officers  are  Broken  on  Account 


22  &lje  Quntington  Cstters. 

of  Toryism  it  is  a  Terrible  Time  for  the 
Enimies  to  their  Country  and  I  wish  it 
might  Never  be  better  for  them  till  they 
Repent  I  am  your  Constant 

BENJ    HUNTINGTON 

Give  my  Love  to  the  Children  &  tell 
them  I  shall  very  Glad  to  hear  they  have 
been  good  Children,  When  I  come  home 

B  H 


May  2j)th  1775 

P.  S  Since  I  wrote  The  foregoing  Capt 
Mott  has  arrived  from  the  Congress 
&  Brings  news  that  they  are  unanimous 
and  highly  Approve  of  what  we  have 
Done  in  taking  Tyconderoga*  and  Crown 

*  "  The  possession  and  control  of  Lakes  George  and 
Champlain  had  from  an  early  date  been  regarded  by  the 
people  of  New  York  and  New  England  as  necessary  to 
their  protection  against  the  encroachments  of  the  French 
in  Canada.  It  was  around  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point 
that  the  greater  part  of  the  fighting  in  the  French  and  In 
dian  War  occurred.  When  the  Revolutionary  struggle 
opened,  the  importance  of  those  posts  was  at  once  recog 
nized  in  the  Northern  colonies,  and  far-sighted  individuals 


£etter0.  23 


Point  and  have  Sent  orders  for  the  Mili 
tary  Stores  in  those  Places  to  be  kept  at 
the  Joint  Expence  of  the  Whole  Continent 
as  also  that  they  Determine  that  the 
Whole  Cost  of  Defence  Shall  be  born  by 
all  the  Colonies  alike  in  Proportion  to 

in  Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  and  New  York  alike  pro 
posed  their  immediate  seizure.  .  .  .  Ticonderoga  was  then 
garrisoned  by  Captain  Delaplace,  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Regi 
ment,  British  Army,  and  a  small  company  of  regulars." 
Captain  Edward  Mott  thus  describes  the  origin  of  the  Ti 
conderoga  enterprise  : 

"  A  number  of  the  principal  gentlemen  of  the  Assem 
bly  at  Hartford,  on  Friday,  the  twenty-eighth  day  of  April, 
Conversing  on  the  distressed  Condition  of  the  people  of 
Boston,  and  the  means  necessary  to  relieve  them,  fell  on 
the  Scheme  to  take  that  fortress  [Ticonderoga],  that  we 
might  have  the  advantage  of  the  cannon  that  were  there  to 
relieve  the  people  of  Boston.  I  told  the  Gentlemen  that  in 
my  opinion  it  might  be  taken  by  surprise  with  a  few  men, 
if  properly  Conducted." 

Captains  Mott  and  Phelps,  with  six  or  eight  volunteers 
from  Hartford  and  re-enforcements  from  many  places  on  the 
road,  marched  to  Ticonderoga.  They  were  joined  by 
Ethan  Allen  and  Seth  Warner  with  their  Green  Mountain 
Boys.  A  Massachusetts  force,  under  Benedict  Arnold, 
overtook  this  Connecticut  force,  and  entered  the  fortress 
gate  at  the  same  time  —  May  loth.  Thereupon  Crown  Point 
also  was  taken.  On  May  i8th,  Benedict  Arnold  surprised 
St.  John.  —  Connecticut  Military  Record,  1115-1848. 


24  ®I)e  ^ntttinglon  fitters. 

their  Ability  About  forty  or  fifty  Regu 
lar  Soldiers  with  their  Wives  and  Children 
are  now  in  Hartford  who  were  brought 
from  the  Northward  in  a  word  we  have 
none  but  good  Newes  these  two  or  three 
Days  Except  that  three  Men  are  Missing 
who  were  in  a  Fight  a  S1  Johns  last  week 
and  Mr  Wales  &  others  have  Wrote  from 
New  York  that  they  have  Intelligence  that 
the  Indians  in  Canada  are  about  to  take  up 
Arms  against  us  I  Shall  not  be  at  home  be 
fore  next  Week  and  am  yours  till  Death 
BENJ  HUNTINGTON 


£etters.  25 


VI. 

NORWICH  May  7th  1776 

SIR  I  recd  your  Favre  of  the  nth  &  i4th 
Ins1  Have  had  no  oppertunity  to  send 
you  a  Line  since  your  Absence  to  aleviate 
your  Fears  about  Gurdon*  He  nearly 
recover^,  his  Lameness  the  Day  after  you 
left  Home  and  his  Eye  is  much  mended 
and  he  Quite  Brisk  and  Hearty  He  shed 

*  Gurdon,  the  second  child,  married  "  first,  March  20, 
1792,  Susannah  Tracy,  who  was  born  August  8,  1770,  and 
died  August  21,  1793.  He  married  for  his  second  wife, 
July  6,  1794,  Anna  Perkins,  who  was  born  February  I, 
1768,  and  died  April  21,  1802.  He  began  life  as  a  carriage 
maker  at  Norwich,  but  after  a  few  years  removed  to  Rome, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  became  a  merchant,  and  by  his  strict  and 
unbending  integrity  and  the  genial  kindliness  of  his  heart 
acquired  the  esteem  and  respect  of  all  who  knew  him.  He 
was  successful  in  his  business,  from  which  he  retired  some 
years  before  his  death,  which  took  place  in  1840." — Hunt- 
ington  Memoir. 


26  (ftlje  IDimtington  Ceiters. 

Tears  when  I  read  the  parts  of  your  Let 
ters  that  concernd  him  The  rest  of  our 
Family  are  well  for  which  Favr  we  have 
Great  reason  to  be  thankful.  There  has 
been  Two  Deaths  in  the  Landing  since 
your  Absence  John  Watermans  only  Child 
and  Salla  Weeks  very  Suddenly  The 
Children  Send  their  Duty  and  all  want  to 
have  you  return.  Hope  you  enjoy  Health 
of  Body  and  Tranquility  of  Mind  and  that 
the  Disagreables  of  Absence  will  be  Am 
ply  repaid  in  the  Publick  Good.  I  am 
with  a  Grateful  return  of  Affection  and 
Esteem  Yours 

ANNE  HUNTINGTON 

P  x  S  Honrd  Mother  sends  you  her  Best 
Regards  A  H 

If  you  can  git  some  Tea*  at  a  Constitu- 

*  "  Yielding  in  part  to  the  storm  in  America,  the  Par 
liament  took  the  tax  off  of  nearly  everything  except  tea. 
By  releasing  a  part  of  the  English  duty  on  tea  sent  to 
America  the  Government  arranged  it  so  that  the  Ameri 
cans,  after  paying  a  tax  in  America,  would  have  their  tea 


fjuttlington  Cutters.  27 


tional  Price  I  Should  be  very  glad  if  it 
was  but  a  Little  thare  is  none  here  but 
what  is  sold  in  a  Clandestine  manner  A  H 

cheaper  than  before.  The  Americans  were  not  contending 
for  a  little  money  but  for  a  principle,  and  they  refused  to 
receive  the  tea.  They  began  to  drink  tea  made  of  sassa 
fras  roots,  sage,  raspberry  leaves,  yaupon,  and  other  Ameri 
can  plants."  —  The  Household  History  of  the  United  States 
and  its  People,  by  Edward  Eggleston. 


28  $l)c  Wilmington  letters. 


VII. 

HARTFORD  May  soth 
MRS  HUNTINGTON 

I  Embrace  Every  Opportunity  to  Write 
to  you  This  is  the  3d  Letter  I  have  Wrote 
but  have  Not  yet  heared  from  you  nor  the 
Children  am  Greatly  Concerned  for  You 
all  but  hope  Nothing  Bad  has  hapned  be 
cause  I  have  had  no  Intelligence  I  have  no 
news  to  Acquaint  you  of  tho  Much  is  said 
here  About  Reports  from  the  Northward 
some  Say  that  Quebec  is  taken  whilst 
others  affirm  our  Army  there  has  Re 
treated  but  those  Reports  are  none  of 
them  well  Authenticated  *— The  Tories  at 
the  Westward  I  Presume  you  have  heared 

*The   evacuation  of  Canada  by  the   Americans   took 
place  June  18,  1776. 


Bunting  ton  Cetters.  29 


are  Detected  in  Raising  Men  to  Butcher 
their  Country  Men  and  are  taken  up  & 
Imprisoned  to  the  Number  of  39  at  Fair- 
field  —  My  Duty  to  Madam  &  Love  to  the 
Children  hope  to  be  at  Home  Next  Week 
I  am  your  Affectionate 

BENJ  HUNTINGTON 

MRS  ANNE  HUNTINGTON 


3°  ®l)e  Ranting  ton  Cotters. 


VIII. 

HARTFORD  May  2ist  1776 
MRS   HUNTINGTON 

I  Wrote  you  a  Line  yesterday  in  which 
I  said  Something  about  News  which  then 
was  not  authenticated  but  Since  that  have 
had  it  Confirmed  that  about  500  Troops 
before  Quebec  had  been  Obliged  to  Re 
treat  15  Leagues  up  the  River  S*  Law 
rence.  Leaving  all  the  Sick  to  the  Mercy 
of  the  Regulars  but  that  they  are  Encamp 
ing  at  Convenient  Place  to  Command  the 
River  which  if  Maintained  will  Answer 
our  Purpose — We  also  had  News  yester 
day  which  Comes  with  Credit  that  one  of 
the  Yankey  Vessels  in  Boston  Bay  has 
taken  a  Store  Ship  belonging  to  George 
Guelph  with  75  Tons  of  Gun  Powder  and 


®i)e  ^nntington  Betters.  31 

1000  Stand  of  Arms  on  Bord — I  am  in 
Hopes  of  Coming  home  Next  Week  Some 
Talk  of  this  Week  but  I  think  Business  on 
hand  will  not  be  finished  by  that  Time  I 
have  not  yet  heard  from  you  nor  the 
Children  Since  I  Came  from  home — If 
you  have  any  Chance  to  buy  Flax  or 
Wool  before  I  Come  pray  buy  as  much 
as  is  Necessary — Tell  Harry*  I  have 
Bought  Tully's  Orations  and  that  Gur- 
don  must  have  it  when  he  has  Done 
with  it  but  leant  Buy  a  Greek  Grammar 
in  Hartford 

*  Henry,  the  eldest  child,  "graduated  at  Dartmouth  in 
1783,  and  entered  upon  the  profession  of  law,  but  soon 
abandoned  this  for  commercial  pursuits.  He  established 
himself  in  business  in  New  York,  and  had  also  an  interest 
in  the  partnership  of  George  Huntington  &  Co.,  of  Rome, 
N.  Y.  Becoming  largely  interested  in  land  speculation,  he 
soon  removed  to  Rome,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life  in  a  most  successful  business  career.  He  was 
chosen  President  of  the  Bank  of  Utica,  and  retained  the 
post  until  his  resignation  a  short  time  before  his  death, 
when  his  failing  health  hindered  his  weekly  visits  to  Utica. 
His  business  career,  from  its  beginning  to  its  close,  was 
marked  by  a  high  tone  of  honor  and  integrity.  ...  In 


32  ftlje  guntinglon  £etters. 

I  wish  you  would  Speak  to  Mr  De  Witt 
and  Desiree  him  to  take  ^"29.17.3  York 
Currency  *  out  of  that  Money  in  the  Sheet 
in  your  Care  and  Send  it  with  my  Com 
pliments  to  Messr  Van  Vleck  &  Ship  in 
New  York  to  Pay  for  Some  Duck  I  owe 
them  for.  I  Choose  to  send  it  by  Land 
and  have  Waited  for  nothing  but  an  Op 
portunity  to  Send  by  a  Trusty  hand  Since 
Recd  the  Duck  I  have  an  order  here  on 
the  Treasury  for  the  same  Sum 

1805,  1806,  and  1807  he  was  a  member  of  the  New  York 
Senate,  and  in  1806  was  also  a  member  of  the  council  of 
appointment.  In  1816  and  1818  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Assembly.  In  1821  he  was  a  member  of  the  con 
vention  for  revising  the  State  Constitution.  He  was  also 
one  of  the  presidential  electors  in  the  elections  both  of 
1808  and  1812.  .  .  .  He  married  Catherine  M.  Havens. 
His  death  occurred  in  Rome  in  1846."  —  Huntington 
Memoir. 

* "  The  coins  that  circulated  in  the  colonies  were 
chiefly  foreign,  and  each  colony  had  a  rate  of  its  own, 
which  was  already  disturbed  by  the  issue  of  paper  money 
in  Massachusetts." — Bancroft's  History  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  p.  £££.  vol.  ii. 

A  national  coinage  for  the  United  States  was  not 
established  by  Congress  until  1786. 


fjuntington  letters.  33 


I  am  with  the  Most  Endearing  Sentiments 
of  Conjugal  Esteem  your 

BENJ  HUNTINGTON 
M*3  HUNTINGTON 

P  S  if  Mr  De  Witt  has  no  Opportunity 
to  Send  the  Money  before  I  Come  home  I 
Suppose  it  will  not  be  much  Matter  Only 
this  That  wish  to  be  Prompt  in  Payment 

B  H 


34  ®t)*  iDtntiittgton 


IX. 

HARTFORD  May  zgth  7777 
MRS  HUNTINGTON 

I  take  this  Opportunity  to  Convey  a 
Line  which  have  more  Leisure  to  Write 
than  I  had  to  Answer  yours  by  John 
Stockwell 

It  is  with  Concern  that  I  hear  of  any 
Difficulty  you  Meet  with  in  your  ( Widow 
hood}  but  hope  you  will  not  Suffer  among 
a  Civil  People  Especially  when  you  are 
able  to  Pay  for  all  the  Favours  &  Supplies 
you  want — we  Read  that  "  the  full  fed 
Soul  Loatheth  the  Honey  Comb,  when  we 
are  put  to  Distress  for  an  Article  for  the 
Support  of  Life  we  know  better  how  to 
prize  it  I  wish  to  be  more  Thankfull  for 
every  Enjoyment  than  I  have  been,  &  hope 


®1)£  Ijtmtington  Ccttcrs.  35 

to  see  a  Greater  Scarsity  of  Money  than 
we  have  at  Present.  That  the  Worship 
ers  of  Mammon  may  be  Put  to  Difficulty 
to  Come  at  the  Shrine  of  their  Idol  whose 
Worship  must  be  Supported  and  will  be 
kept  up  at  the  Expence  of  all  that  is  Good 
&  Praiseworthy — That  God  has  but  one 
Perfection  and  that  is  the  Idea  of  Infinite 
Increase  or  Augmentation  and  when  the 
Materials  of  Increase  are  Plenty  his  Size 
must  Grow  to  an  amazing  Bulk  his  Wor 
shipers  are  hearty  Sincear  &  True  for  they 
Give  their  Hearts  and  Souls  to  him  and 
his  Service  is  their  Most  Perfect  Freedom 
a  Freedom  that  Differs  not  from  Slavery — 
The  Assembly  Yesterday  had  a  Most  Seri 
ous  Debate  upon  the  Question  whether  they 
would  Repeal  the  Act  for  Regulating  Prizes 
[Prices]  *  This  Debate  was  brought  on 

*  An  act  for  regulating  prices  was  already  in  force. 
In  this  session  of  May,  1777,  an  attempt  was  made  to  re 
peal  the  act,  but  without  success.  On  the  contrary,  the 
principle  was  reaffirmed,  and  severe  penalties  decreed 
against  violators.  Maximum  prices  were  fixed  for  pork, 


36  QTlje  IJtmtington  Betters. 

by  Gentlemen  in  Trade  and  Seconded  by 
Farmers  who  have  No  Avertion  to  Money 
nor  to  the  Ways  of  Gitting  of  it  Serious 
ness  Brooded  on  their  Countenances  they 
Declared  that  articles  of  Life  &  for  the 
Army  would  always  be  Scarse  untill  the 
Poor  Farmer  and  the  Honest  Importer 
Could  be  Encouraged  to  their  Several 
Emploments  of  Raising,  Importing  &c  and 
that  the  Prices  stated  by  Law  were  in 
many  Instances  low  &  Disheartening  and 
Would  bring  on  a  Scarsity,  these  Men 
were  such  as  I  am  sure  Wished  well  to 
their  Country,  but  the  God  of  this  World 
had  blinded  their  Eyes  I  Never  Saw 
More  Seriousness  appear  on  hearing  a 
Most  Authodox  Hopkintonian  Sermon 
than  was  in  the  House  &  on  full  Debate 
&  Consideration  the  Question  was  Put 


West  India  rum,  New  England  rum,  best  Muscovado 
sugar,  American  manufactured  cheese,  best  neat-leather 
shoes,  salted  pork,  good  yard-wide  tow  cloth,  rye,  wheat, 
flour,  and  molasses. — Public  Records  of  Connecticut,  vol.  i. 


®l)e  Qnntingtott  Ccttcrs.  37 

whether  The  House  would  give  Liberty 
to  a  Certain  Great  Patriot  to  bring-  in  a 
Bill  for  the  Repeal  of  the  Law  against 
Monopolies  &  Oppression,  there  were  but 
about  ten  or  Twelve  Hands  up  for  the 
Repeal,  to  the  Great  Mortification  of  the 
Mammonites  who  will  yet  be  seen  to  wor 
ship  on  Every  high  Hill  and  under  every 
Green  Tree 

It  is  now  under  Consideration  whether 
an  Act  Shall  be  Passed  to  make  it  more 
Dangerous  to  Violate  the  Law  against 
Oppression,  That  no  man  shall,  after  his 
Covinction  for  a  Breach  of  that  Law  be 
Capable  of  Holding  any  office  Civil  or 
Military  nor  to  Recover  a  Debt  or  Re 
ceive  a  Deed  of  Land  and  that  None  shall 
hold  an  Office  untill  he  has  taken  a  Solomn 
Oath  that  he  has  not  Violated  that  Law 
Directly  nor  Indirectly  after  the  loth  Day 
of  June  Next  which  Act  I  hope  will  Pass 
and  that  Justice  &  Virtue  May  in  our  Day 
Triumph  over  Iniquity — I  have  a  New  ap- 


33  QLfc  §untington 


pointment  on  the  Commit  of  Safety*  for 
the  year  Ensuing  but  am  very  Sorry  to 
See  Gen1  Huntington  f  left  out  he  is  a 
Useful  Man  in  that  Business  &  has  Ren 
dered  good  Service  to  his  Country  but  it 
is  in  Vain  to  Expect  a  Reward  for  any 
Good  Deed  in  this  World  if  the  Reward 
is  to  Come  from  the  Hands  of  Designing 
Men  —  There  were  about  Eighty  Prisoners 
brought  into  this  Town  yesterday  taken 
from  Long  Island  by  a  Party  who  went 
over  &  brought  them  off  the  (Point)  agree- 


*  The  Committee  of  Safety  consisted  of  the  Governor 
and  a  few  other  gentlemen  of  the  Assembly,  whose  duty  it 
was  to  devise  ways  and  means  for  carrying  on  the  war,  at 
this  time  an  extremely  difficult  and  important  task. 

f  Jedediah  Huntington,  of  Norwich,  appears  on  the 
Lexington  Alarm  List  as  colonel.  He  served  twenty-three 
days,  being  stationed  at  Roxbury  during  the  siege  of  Bos 
ton  in  1775.  In  1776  he  fought  under  Washington  in  the 
campaign  around  New  York.  In  1777  he  was  promoted 
to  brigadier  general  of  the  Continental  Army,  saw  much 
service  throughout  the  war,  wintered  at  Valley  Forge,  and 
was  a  member  of  the  court  that  tried  Andre.  He  retired 
with  the  disbandment  of  the  army  in  June,  1783,  and  died 
September  25,  1818. 


fjmttington  Ccttets.  39 


able  Mr  Joseph  Chew  is  one  of  those  Cap 
tives.  Capt  Benj  Throop  *  was  one  of  the 
Captains  in  the  Expedition  &  Little  Joseph 
Lothrop  f  of  Norwich  was  in  the  Party, 
they  Came  up  with  the  feelings  and  ap- 
pearace  of  Victors  no  Doubt  they  had  Sen 
sations  of  the  Similar  Kind  that  were  had 
by  Alexander  the  Great—  I  am  at  a  Loss 
when  I  Shall  Come  home  as  I  Cannot  Con 
ceive  of  the  Assembly  Rising  this  Week 
If  you  have  spent  your  Money  you  must 
Try  my  Credit  a  few  Days  among  Friends 
—  My  Love  to  the  Children  &  Compli 
ments  to  Capt  Abel  &  other  Friends  and 
Good  Wishes  to  Enemies,  that  they  may 
become  Friends  —  There  is  one  Stone  to 
be  Executed  here  this  Morning  between 
the  Hours  of  8  &  10  for  Conspiracy  against 

*  Captain  Benjamin  Throop,  of  Norwich,  was  lieuten 
ant  in  1775,  captain  in  1776,  promoted  major  in  1778,  and 
retired  January  i,  1783.  On  the  Connecticut  pension  rolls 
he  appears  as  living  in  New  York  in  1818. 

f  Joseph  Lothrop's  name  occurs  in  the  Lexington 
Alarm  List  as  that  of  a  private  who  served  one  day. 


40  &l)e  Ijtmtingtott  Cettcrs. 

his  Country — May  God  be  Merciful  to 
him — I  am  afraid  he  will  Suffer  too  Much 
for  his  Crime,  but  am  not  his  Judge  if  his 
own  Account  of  his  Case  is  True  his  Case 
is  hard — I  know  not  the  Truth  of  what 
he  says  and  Indeed  Suspect  it  much — I 
am  &c 

BENJ  HUNTINGTON 
MRS  HUNTINGTON 


finnting ton  £cttcr0.  41 


X. 

More  than  three  years  have  elapsed.  Benjamin 
Huntington  is  now  a  member  of  the  Continental  Con 
gress,  in  session  at  Philadelphia. 

NORWICH  June  loth  1780. 

DEAR  SIR 

I  recd  a  Line  from  you  Dated  at  Hart 
ford  and  had  the  Pleasure  of  hearing-  from 
you  by  Mr  Bill  had  soon  an  oppertunity 
of  sending  Harry  the  things  I  forgot  in 
my  Great  perturbation  to  put  up  for  him 
Have  heard  nothing-  from  him  since  you 
left  Home 

Our  Family  are  all  by  Favour  of  Provi 
dence  in  Health  which  is  nearly  all  that  is 
worth  while  (in  the  small  Circle  of  my 
Affairs  to  communicate  at  such  a  Great 
Distance.  Am  anxious  till  I  hear  how 
you  have  the  Small  Pox,  tis  needless  to  re- 


42  (ftlje  ijnntington  Cotters. 

quest  you  to  let  me  hear  from  you  by  the 
first  Opertunity.  Mr  Frisby  continues 
here  and  says  Nothing  about  changing  his 
Lodgings  he  Determined  not  to  keep 
school  here  more  than  this  Quarter  he  says 
Mr  Spalding  the  Young  Atty  from  Can 
terbury  was  in  Town  this  Week  to  git  a 
Place  to  Board.  Shall  want  your  advice 
where  to  send  the  Boys  to  School  Gurdon 
studies  his  Accidence  yet  but  believe  (to 
use  his  own  Phrase)  does  not  Extend  him 
self  have  heard  nothing  said  about  gitting 
another  Schoolmaster  Please  to  make  my 
Devoirs  to  Mrs  President*  and  except  of 

*  The  wife  of  Samuel  Huntington,  who  was  a  signer 
of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  President  of  the 
Continental  Congress  from  September  28,  1779,  until  July 
6,  1781,  when  he  resigned  on  account  of  failing  health. 
He  was  perhaps  the  most  illustrious  member  of  the  Hunt 
ington  family.  He  was  elected  Governor  of  Connecticut  in 
1786,  and  died  in  1796.  In  1761  he  married  Martha  De 
votion,  daughter  of  his  pastor.  They  had  no  children  of 
their  own,  but  their  home  was  the  resort  of  a  large  circle  of 
friends  and  relatives.  Samuel  learned  the  trade  of  a 
cooper  when  a  youth,  but  through  diligent  study  fitted  him 
self  for  the  bar,  so  that  before  his  thirtieth  year  had  ended 


V 


Jjjnntington  Cclters.  43 


Best  Wishes  for  Health  &  Happiness  From 
your 

Affectionate  &c  ANNE  HUNTINGTON 

P  S  there  has  been  Plenty  of  Wheat 
cryd  along  Street  to  Day  100  Dollars  pr 
Bushel. 

he  was  not  simply  an  established  lawyer,  but  one  who  had 
already  won  distinction. 

It  is  still  remembered  that  Mrs.  Huntington  "in  a 
white  short  gown  and  stuff  petticoat,  and  clean  muslin 
apron,  with  a  nicely  starched  cap  on  her  head,  would  take 
her  knitting  and  go  out  by  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  to 
take  tea  unceremoniously  with  some  respectable  neighbor, 
the  butcher's  or  blacksmith's  wife,  perhaps.  But  this  was 
in  earlier  days,  before  Mr.  Huntington  was  President  of 
Congress  or  Governor  of  Connecticut." — History  of  Nor 
wich,  by  Frances  M.  Caulkins. 


44  ®1)£  ^untington  Cetters. 


XI. 

NORWICH  Sep*r  22*  1780. 

SIR: 

I  recd  yours  of  the  first  Inst1  in  which 
I  have  the  agreeable  ace1  of  your  Health 
and  had  Since  the  pleasure  of  the  Like 
by  Mr  Ellery  who  inform'1  me  he  Sat 
at  the  Same  Board  with  you  when  at 
Philadelphia.  Our  Family  and  relatives  at 
Norwich  are  well  except  Harry  who  has 
informd  you  of  his  misfortune.  Deacon 
Huntington  has  lost  his  Son  Roger  in  a 
Sudden  and  surprising  manner  As  he  was 
studying  at  Doc  Rogers's  with  a  sharp 
pointed  Pen  knife  Carelessly  in  his  Hand 
a  Fly  Bit  him  and  he  knockd  his  knees 
together  and  pierced  the  knife  into  his 
Thigh  and  cut  Through  the  main  Artery 


45 


Doc  Rogers  Soon  stopt  the  Blood  from 
coming  through  the  Wound  bound  it  up 
and  did  not  open  it  for  Several  Days  tis 
thought  the  Doc1  was  not  skilld  in  such 
Capital  wounds  the  Thigh  Swelld  to  a 
great  Degree  and  they  Had  Doc  Turner 
to  it  he  opend  it  and  found  near  Two 
Quarts  of  Clotted  Blood  within  the  Thigh 
and  a  Mortification  begun  he  told  the 
Young  man  Immediate  Amputation  was 
the  only  Possible  Remedy  and  that  a  very 
improbable  one  to  which  he  consented  and 
in  less  than  an  Hour  after  the  operation 
Expired  on  the  7th  Instant.  Captn  Edger- 
ton's  Daughter  Lucy  was  Buried  this  Day 
his  Son  Ben.  is  very  sick  with  the  Long 
Fever.  I  think  we  have  great  cause  of 
Thankfullness  for  the  Discriminating  Fa 
vour  of  Providence  in  preserving  the  Lives 
of  all  our  Children.  I  have  a  great  many 
things  to  say  but  have  so  many  Family 
Avocations  pressing  upon  me,  tis  very  Dif 
ficult  for  me  to  write  any  thing  in  the  Day 


Cctters. 


Time,  and  my  Sight  fails  me  very  much  so 
that  I  am  not  able  to  write  much  by  can 
dlelight.  I  believe  I  must  come  to  the  use 
of  glasses  if  1  can  find  any  I  have  tryd  to 
Procure  some  Cyder  but  can  hear  of  none 
to  be  sold  nearer  than  Connecticut  River 
Believe  I  shall  send  there  with  Mr  Isaac 
Abel  to  git  some  he  says  he  will  buy  a 
Load  of  Hay  for  us  and  settle  with  you 
when  you  Return  E  Lord  Fails  me  about 
Hay  Mr  Hough  Calld  at  our  House  the 
other  Day  to  see  us  I  askd  him  if  he  would 
give  me  the  Money  for  the  State  Note 
you  mentiond  he  said  the  Assembly  had 
not  setled  how  they  should  be  recd  and  he 
expects  they  will  the  Next  Session  he 
offerd  to  let  me  have  what  Money  I 
wanted  and  Believe  I  shall  except  his 
offer  I  indeavour  at  the  best  accon- 
omy  I  am  Mistress  of  but  you  are  sen 
sible  of  the  Nessary  expence  of  our 
Family  I  intend  to  engage  Pork  as 
soon  as  I  can  I  suppose  it  will  be  very 


ftlje  {juntington  fitters.  47 

Dear  we  give  4  Dollars  a  pound  for 
Beef.* 

I  did  intend  to  have  gone  to  Windham 
soon  but  cant  Leave  Harry  at  Present  and 
shall  omit  it  till  you  return,  which  I  heart 
ily  wish  for 

From,  Dear  Sir 

your  ANNE  HUNTINGTON 
HONRBL  BEN  HUNTINGTON 

N.  B.  Capn  Abel  came  here  to  Night 
and  told  me  not  to  forgit  to  give  you  his 
kind  Comp13  and  tell  you  he  wants  to  see 

*  To  show  the  hardships  encountered  by  this  good 
woman,  and  her  resolute  patriotism,  I  quote  from  the  Hunt- 
ington  Memoirs,  pp.  89,  90  :  "  On  one  occasion  of  pressing 
want  on  the  part  of  our  Revolutionary  Army,  an  earnest 
call  was  made  upon  the  families  of  Norwich  for  supplies  of 
clothing.  In  the  absence  of  Judge  [Benjamin]  Hunting-, 
ton,  then  away  in  the  service  of  the  State,  his  wife,  select 
ing  a  single  blanket  in  which  to  wrap  her  youngest  child 
[Rachel],  forwarded  all  the  rest  to  the  army,  and  supplied 
their  place  on  the  beds  at  home  by  blankets  cut  from  the 
carpets  on  the  floor,  preferring  for  the  present  well-sanded 
floors  without  their  accustomed  covering,  so  that  the  noble 
patriotism  of  the  needy  army  might  be  encouraged  and 
rewarded." 


4s  &lje  Bunting  ton  betters. 

you  very  much  the  Children  send  their 
Duty 

Elisha  Lathrop  &  Jaz  Perkins  Esq1"8  are 
Chosen  Deputies  for  the  Town  of  Nor 
wich. 


f nntington  £ettera.  49 


XII. 

NORWICH  May  2gth  1782 

DEAR  SIR! 

I  recd  your  Letter  and  the  Money  by  Coll 
Halsey  With  Pleasure  can  inform  you  am 
in  a  much  better  state  of  Health  than  when 
you  went  from  home  the  rest  of  our  Fam 
ily  are  well  a  favour  we  ought  to  notis 
with  Gratitude  Harry  is  now  at  home  on 
account  of  Mr  Huntingtons  Indisposition 
he  Designs  to  return  as  soon  as  he  can 
Hear  Mr  H  is  recoverd  Coll  Durkey  last 
Night  left  this  world  with  the  Greatest 
Seeming  composure  and  Resignation  I 
think  we  have  Just  reason  to  lament  his 
Death  I  wish  you  Health  and  Happiness 
and  no  anxiety  about  us  at  home  we  have 
a  kind  Providence  ever  attendant  upon 


50  ®lK  ^untington  Betters. 

us  and  a  Prospect  of  being  very  comfort 
able  on  all  accts  but  the  want  of  your  com 
pany  which  is  indeed  very  hard  to  be 
reconciled  to  Brother  Huntington  from 
Windham  went  from  here  this  afternoon 
he  appears  Chearful  and  more  like  himself 
than  I  have  seen  him  for  a  long  time  he 
says  his  Wife  and  sister  Stoors  *  are  com 
ing  to  see  me  in  a  few  days  have  heard 
nothing  from  Mr  Clark  since  you  went 
from  Home  Mother  seems  as  contented  as 
can  be  expected. 
Pray  write  by  Mr  Tracy  to 

Your  Constant  and  Affectionate 

ANNE  HUNTINGTON 

*  A  younger  sister,  Lucy,  who  was  born  in  Windham, 
June  16,  1744,  and  married  Colonel  Experience  Storrs,  of 
Mansfield,  Conn.,  where  she  died,  February  6,  1801. 


Cettcrs.  51 


XIII. 

NORWICH  June  4th  1782 

D»  SIR! 

I  wrote  you  by  Cap*  Fredk  Tracy  a  few 
Days  past  since  which  have  nothing  Ma 
terial  to  Inform  you  of  except  that  we  are 
all  well  which  am  willing  to  give  you  the 
latest  inteligence  of  I  am  impatient  to 
hear  how  you  got  to  P  and  whether  you 
enjoy  Health  and  I  was  going  to  say  when 
I  may  expect  to  see  you  but  I  Forbear 
Harry  is  at  Home  yet  but  shall  git  him 
ready  to  go  as  soon  as  I  can  I  hear  Mr 
Huntington  has  nearly  recoverd  from  his 
Illness 

Our  Horse  has  not  been  fit  for  Service 
since  he  came  Home  by  reason  of  a  Swell 
ing  on  his  Back  Doc  Perez  has  been  very 


52  fftlje  gnntington  Betters. 

busy  with  his  Skill  Knife  &  Precipitate 
and  thinks  the  Horse  in  a  good  way  and  I 
Believe  thinks  himself  so  too  I  trouble  you 
with  this  ace1  of  the  Horse  because  I  dont 
know  but  you  will  choose  to  give  some 
Directions  about  Him 

I  shall  count  the  Days  till  Mr  Browns 
Return  when  I  hope  to  receive  a  Line 
from  your  Hand  I  inclose  a  Certificate 
from  Capt  carew  which  he  omited — I  am 
Dear  Sir  without  Reserve 

Yours        ANNE  HUNTINGTON 

P  x  S  Mother  Desires  to  be  suitably  Re- 
membred  as  do  the  Children 

BENJAMIN  HUNTINGTON  ESQR 


^iintington  Cettcrs.  53 


XIV. 

PHILADELPHIA  August  ^th  1782 

DEAR  MRS  HUNTINGTON 
The  Pleasure  of  Writing-  to  my  faithful 
Partner  is  great  but  that  of  Receiving  a 
Line  from  you  is  greater.  It  brings  Tid 
ings  from  my  best  Friend  on  Earth.  By 
it  I  learn  the  State  of  the  Dear  Family  for 
whose  Happiness  Honor  &  Interest  my 
deepest  Concerns  are  employed.  If  a 
Temporary  Absence  from  Such  a  Friend 
is  Painful,  how  unsupportable  must  a  finale 
Separation  be.  But  not  to  anticipate  Sor 
row  we  ought  to  Reflect  that  our  Present 
Enjoyments  are  the  Gifts  of  Heaven  to 
Promote  our  Happiness  in  this  Imperfect 
State  and  that  without  them  our  Lives 
would  be  insipid  But  the  Hopes  of  a 


54  Stye  fjuntingtott  fitters. 

Blessed  Immortality  Resting  on  a  Sure 
Foundation  of  Privilege  laid  in  Matchless 
Wisdom  &  Benevolence  and  Confirmed  by 
the  Omnipotence  of  him  whose  Designs 
Cannot  be  Defeated,  afford  solid  Consola 
tion  to  the  Mind  even  whilst  we  are  driven 
in  the  Midst  of  Boisterous  Events  down 
the  Troubled  Torrent  of  Time.  When 
we  Consider  that  all  our  Infirmities  Suffer 
ings  Pains  Bereavements  &  Mournings  are 
designed  by  Heaven  to  bring  us  to  that 
Pure  Meekness  of  Spirit  in  which  alone  we 
Can  Partake  of  Immortal  Joy,  the  most 
Ponderous  Destresses  in  this  World  be 
come  Welcome  Corrections  from  the  Hand 
of  our  almighty  Parent  This  Rapsody  of 
thought  Occurred  on  Sitting  Down  to 
Write  &  upon  Turning  my  Thoughts 
towards  home — I  am  in  Good  Business  and 
hope  to  find  you  in  better  health,  and  that 
you  will  not  omit  Riding  out  as  often  as 
you  can — But  after  all  our  Efforts  for  Self 
Preservation,  our  whole  Trust  must  be  in 


{juntington  Otters.  55 


that  being  who  alone  is  Able  to  help  us  for 
vain  is  the  help  of  Man 

Give  my  love  to  the  Children 
I  am  your  Affectionate 

BENJ  HUNTINGTON 

Mr  Lathrop  tills  me  Gurdon  is  Coming 
here  which  I  hope  he  will  not  fail  to  do  by 
the  next  Packett  whilst  I  am  here 

B  H 


XV. 

PRINCETON  Seplr  8th 

DEAR  MRS  HUNTINGTON 
Since  my  Last  Nothing  Material  has 
hapned  a  Dutch  Minister  is  Dayly  Ex 
pected  to  arrive  in  Philadelphia  and  it  was 
Rumoured  that  Some  of  his  furniture  was 
arrived  last  Week  This  must  be  a  Won 
derful  great  Affair  and  what  Congress  can 
Do  with  this  Great  Personage  in  Prince 
ton  is  more  than  Humane  Wisdom  can 
Divise  for  there  are  not  Buildings  Suf 
ficient  to  House  more  Dons  nor  (in)  Indeed 
as  many  as  are  Already  here  Some  are 
under  Necessity  to  Go  to  Philadelphia 
once  or  Twice  a  fortnight  to  Breath  in 
Polite  Air.  The  Country  so  badly  agrees 
with  those  Sublime  &  Delicate  Constitu- 


Quntington  £etter0.  57 


tions  that  it  is  to  be  feared  that  many  of 
them  will  Contract  a  Rusticity  that  Can 
never  be  wholly  Purged  off  We  have  noth 
ing  here  but  the  Necessaries  and  Comforts 
of  Life  and  who  can  live  so  ?  The  Agree- 
ables  of  the  City  cannot  be  had  in  the 
Country  I  Expect  no  Business  of  Impor 
tance  will  be  Done  untill  Congress  Returns 
to  that  Sweet  Paridice  from  which  they 
hastily  took  Flight  in  June  last*  Since 
which  Time  an  Awkward  Rustication  has 
been  their  Painful  Situation  on  an  Emi 
nence  in  the  Country  where  they  have  no 
Musquitoes  to  Serenade  them  in  bed  and 

*  The  Continental  Congress  more  than  once  changed 
its  place  of  meeting,  though  Philadelphia  was  its  first  and 
customary  home. 

In  1777  Alexander  Hamilton,  who  was  ordered  to 
Philadelphia  to  secure  stores,  gave  Congress  notice  of  im 
mediate  danger  one  evening,  and  its  members,  few  in  num 
ber,  fled  in  the  night  to  meet  at  Lancaster. 

Toward  the  end  of  June,  1783,  mutinous  soldiers  sur 
rounded  Congress  in  Philadelphia,  clamoring  for  their  pay. 
Congress  insisted  that  the  State  authorities  call  out  the 
militia  to  restore  order,  and  the  request  being  refused,  it 
adjourned  to  Princeton. 


58  (pe  fjtmtittgton  £*tter0. 

in  the  Day  they  have  a  Prospect  of  no 
more  than  30  or  40  Miles  to  the  High 
Lands  on  the  Sea  Coast  nor  can  they  hear 
the  musick  of  Carts  and  Waggons  on  the 
Pavements  in  the  City  nor  See  the  motly 
Crowd  of  Beings  in  those  Streets.  This 
must  be  Truely  Distressing  to  Gentlemen 
of  Taste — The  Ladies  make  less  Complaint 
than  the  Gentlemen  and  the  Gentlemen 
who  have  their  Ladies  here  seem  in  some 
Degree  Contented.  The  President*  of 
Congress  who  Belongs  in  the  Jersy  is 
obliged  to  leave  his  Lady  in  Philadelphia 
to  Keep  Possession  but  has  the  Promise  of 
a  Very  Genteel  House  here  if  he  will  take 
it  but  not  Knowing  whether  Congress  will 
abide  in  Princetown  or  not,  he  is  at  the 
utmost  Loss  what  to  Do,  Whether  it  is 
best  for  him  and  his  wife  to  live  together 
as  Peasants  do  in  the  Country  or  for  her 
to  be  at  Philada  as  the  Ladies  do,  and  for 

*  Elias  Boudinot. 


^ttntington  ^Letters.  59 


him  to  Live  as  a  Gentleman  Doing  Busi 
ness  in  the  Country  in  hopes  of  Retiring 
to  the  Pleasures  and  amusements  of  the 
City  when  Business  is  over  this  Matter 
Requiring  Great  Deliberation  Cannot  (like 
the  Emigration  of  Congress  in  June  last) 
be  hastily  Determined  Thus  you  See  we 
Great  Folks  are  not  without  Trouble.  I 
hope  to  become  a  small  man  in  a  few 
Weeks  and  Retire  from  the  Embarrass 
ments  of  Dignity  to  the  Plain  &  Peaceful 
Possessions  of  a  Private  Life  not  Desiring 
to  Live  without  Business  but  to  do  useful 
Business  without  ye  Pangs  &  Vanity  of 
this  Wicked  World 

All  I  have  Wrote  is  not  what  I  Designed 
when  I  began  &  Consequently  have  not 
yet  advanced  one  Step  toward  any  Design 
and  having  nothing  to  Write  About  am  at 
a  Great  Loss  what  to  Write  because  it 
Requires  more  Strength  of  Genius  to  Build 
on  Hansom  Fabrick  without  Materials  than 
with  —  I  am  Spending  Money  very  fast  but 


60  (fttye  ^nntington  Betters. 

not  so  fast  as  I  Could  with  the  Same  Degree 
of  Industery  in  Philadelphia  &  it  is  a  Morti 
fying  Consideration  that  my  Cash  is  Spent 
for  no  better  Purposes,  but  the  Great  & 
General  Concerns  of  a  Nation  must  at 
tended  to  and  the  Fashions  &  Customs  of 
the  World  are  Such  as  Require  it  to  be 
Done  with  Expence — A  new  Fashion  is 
among  the  Ladies  here  which  is  the  Same 
as  at  Philada  The  Roll  is  much  less  than 
formerly  and  is  Raised  to  a  Peak  on  their 
Forehead  Frowzled  and  Powdered  and 
they  wear  Men's  Beaver  Hats  with  a 
Large  Tye  of  Gauze  like  a  Sash  or  Mourn 
ing  Wead  about  the  Crown  &  Decorated 
with  Feathers  &  Plumes  on  the  Top  which 
makes  a  very  Daring  Appearance  The 
Brim  of  the  Hat  is  Loped  before  about 
as  low  as  their  Eyes  and  is  a  Kind  of  Rid 
ing  Hat  They  Walk  Abroad  and  Sit  in 
Church  in  the  Same.  Some  have  them  in 
the  Same  Figure  made  of  Paper  and  Cov 
ered  with  Silk  with  Deep  Crowns  as  a 


©Ije  ^nntington  Betters.  61 

Beaver  Hat  but  as  this  is  much  out  of  the 
Line  of  Business  I  was  sent  here  to  do  I 
have  not  been  very  Particular  on  the  Sub 
ject  I  might  also  mention  the  Waistcoat 
and  Long  Sleaves  much  like  the  Riding 
habits  our  Ladies  wore  Twenty  five  years 
ago  but  as  they  Differ  some  from  them  & 
having  no  Right  to  be  very  Much  in  Ob 
servation  upon  the  Ladies  I  am  not  able  to 
say  Much  on  the  Subject 
Give  my  love  in  Particular  to  Every  Child 
in  our  Family  &  Regards  to  Friends  & 
Neighbors 

I  am  Dear  Spouse 

your  Most  Affectionate 

BENJ  HUNTINGTON 

MRS  ANNE  HUNTINGTON 


62  1&kc  llttntintott  £etters. 


XVI. 

N.  YORK  July  first  1788 
MRS  HUNTINGTON 

Mr  John  Smith  the  Barber  Sets  out  this 
morning  for  Chelsea  &  is  the  Bearer  of 
this — I  arrived  safely  at  Capt  Hardings  in 
48  hours  from  the  Time  I  left  home  had  no 
fair  wind  and  was  in  a  heavy  Rain  about 
half  the  Way  yet  was  very  comfortable 
the  whole  Passage  Old  M*5  Bates  and 
her  grand-Daughter  Miss  Betsey  Bunce 
were  on  Board  &  Arrived  Safe  after  an 
abundance  of  Sea-Sickness  Capt  Culver 
will  sail  in  four  or  five  Days  &  by  him  I 
shall  send  you  a  little  Flour — My  Lodgings 
are  Convenient  &  the  House  at  Present 
Very  full  of  New  England  Gentlemen  who 


STIje  ^tmtington  Cetlers.  63 

Incline  to  put  up  at  a  House  of  their  own 
Country  Man.  Capt  Harding  &  his  Lady 
are  both  in  health  &  send  Compliments 
&c  they  have  no  Family  but  themselves 
and  two  Servants  I  have  seen  Dr  Cogs 
well  but  have  not  found  whether  I  Spell 
his  Name  right  or  not  have  also  seen  Pros 
per  Wetmore  &  his  Brother  Robert  & 
heared  from  our  Friends  at  Stratford  & 
Stamford  &c  all  well.  Mr  James  Daven 
port  *  was  here  but  one  or  two  Days  be 
fore  I  arrived  &  is  Expected  again  soon 
Have  Inclosed  the  News  &  therefore  have 
nothing  to  say  about  that  Subject  saving 
only  that  we  expect  News  this  Day  from 
Virginia  that  they  have  adopted  the  New 
Constitution  —  By  Capt  Culver  I  shall 

*  A  half-sister  of  Anne,  Elizabeth,  married  the  Hon. 
Abraham,  son  of  Rev.  John  Davenport,  of  Stamford,  Conn. 
It  was  this  Abraham  who  called  for  lights  in  the  legislative 
hall  on  the  igth  of  May,  1780,  declaring  his  intention,  if 
the  Judgment  Day  was  approaching,  of  being  found  at  his 
post  of  duty.  Their  children  were  five,  among  whom 
John  and  James  were  members  of  Congress,  and  Elizabeth 
married  the  Dr.  James  Coggswell  mentioned  in  this  letter. 


64  £l)e  ^nntingtcn  betters. 

Write    some    Directions    about    Sundery 
Matters  which  I  had  not   Time   to  think 
of  before  I  left   Home 
Give  My  Love  to  the  Children 

I  am  your        BEXJ  HUXTINGTON 


£etters.  65 


XVII. 

NORWICH  July  28th  1788 

I  have  just  heard  that  Capt.  Culver 
Sails  this  Morning  have  only  time  to  ac 
knowledge  the  receit  of  yours  of  the  24 
&  25th  Inst1  I  esteem  it  a  privilege  that 
I  can  hear  from  you  so  often.  I  have 
been  obliged  to  spare  some  of  the  flour 
you  sent  me  and  have  but  very  little  left 
Should  be  glad  if  tis  convenient  you 
would  send  me  some  more.  We  have 
dismised  Man  Cyrus  for  some  cavalierly 
conduct  in  particular  striking  Hezekiah  on 
the  head  with  a  stone  for  a  small  affront 
and  some  other  enormities  of  the  like  na 
ture.  Harry  sent  him  with  a  letter  to 
Sister  Wales  and  one  enclosed  to  the  Se 
lectmen  to  deliver  if  she  pleased  I  pitied 


66  fftlje  ^ontington  Cetters. 

the  poor  fellow  but  dont  think  him  quali 
fied  to  live  at  our  house  I  was  loath  to 
have  any  such  overtures  made  in  your 
absence  but  suppose  you  would  have  done 
the  same  had  you  been  present.  I  hope 
you  will  come  home  in  September  and 
wear  your  own  Cloaths. 

I  am  yours 

ANNE  HUNTINGTON 

BENJN  HUNTINGTON  ESQR 


^nntington  fitters.  67 


XVIII. 

NORWICH  August  u*k  1788 

DEAR  SIR  I  have  been  very  Sick  but  the 
Doctor  tells  me  I  am  better  but  am  very 
weak  I  have  been  greatly  mortified  about 
my  neglect  in  not  acknowleging  the  rec*  of 
the  Shawls  &c  by  Mr  Warren  which  he 
Deliverd  as  soon  as  he  arivd 
I  was  very  well  pleasd  with  my  Shaul  & 
think  it  an  elegant  one  and  if  ever  I  git 
well  I  shall  wear  it  I  gave  the  little  one 
to  Rachel  *  which  pleases  her  much  I  am 
Loath  you  should  know  that  I  am  sick  but 
dont  let  it  ditress  you  only  let  me  have 
your  prayers.  Our  Children  both  sons  & 
daughters  have  ever  since  your  absence 
done  every  thing  in  their  power  for  my 

*  The  seventh  child,  Rachel,  was  nine  years  old  at 
this  date.  It  was  she  who  subsequently  wrote  most  of  the 
letters  which  form  the  latter  part  of  this  collection. 


68  (fttje  f  ttntington 


comfort  dont  think  of  returning  on  ac 
count  of  my  indisposition  I  realy  think  it 
will  injure  you  and  the  family. 
I  have  an  excellent  kind  Nurse  in  Mre 
Dains  and  now  you  want  to  know  what 
ails  me  I  believe  my  distemper  is  without 
name  in  the  first  place  I  had  a  considerable 
high  fever  attended  with  great  pain  so 
that  for  about  a  week  I  got  no  quiet  sleep 
but  by  opperation  of  opium  I  am  now 
almost  Clear  of  fever  and  can  Sleep  quietly 
without  opium  nothing  at  present  seems  to 
hinder  my  Gitting  about  but  a  general 
weakness  &  debility  which  the  Doctr  says 
Time  will  remedy 

I  did  not  expect  when  I  first  took  up  my 
pen  that  I  should  be  able  to  write  three 
Lines  I  cant  answer  your  Letters  that 
came  since  my  sickness  only  we  have  recd 
the  4^  bbl  flour 

I  am  your        ANNE  HUNTINGTON 

BENJN  HUNTINGTON  ESQR 


£cltcrs.  69 


XIX. 

NORWICH  March  jit  if8g. 

SIR 

The  letters  by  Mr  Rodman  Captns  Cul 
ver  &  Niles  with  the  flour  &c  have  been 
duly  recd.  I  wish  I  coud  acknowledge 
your  favours  with  propriety  but  my 
Strength  will  not  admit  of  writing  but  a 
few  lines  I  have  had  2  or  3  very  ill  turns 
of  late  and  have  recruited  again  I  am  now 
mending  &  have  been  for  several  days 
past.  Doc  Tracy  says  he  thinks  I  shall  be 
about  in  a  few  days  as  well  as  Usual  my 
Cough  and  fever  seem  to  abate  I  am  fee 
ble  but  hope  when  the  weather  is  setled 
and  warm  to  gain  strength  by  riding  more 
frequently  I  desire  I  may  be  patient  and 
submissive  whatever  may  be  the  event  of 


70  &lje  ^untittjgton  Betters. 

Providence  concerning  me.  dont  be  anx 
ious  about  me  our  Children  are  kind  and 
attintive  as  they  can  be  and  I  try  to  divest 
myself  of  all  worldly  cares  as  much  as  pos 
sible,  the  account  of  Mre  Backus's  Death 
is  truly  affecting  Mr  Backus  by  his  let 
ter  seems  overwhelmed  with  grief  I 
heartily  pity  him  his  proposals  about  his 
Children  upon  more  mature  consideration 
I  believe  he  will  not  approve  of  himself  I 
have  not  mentioned  to  Mrs  Dr.  Comprez 
or  any  one  else  any  thing  of  the  mattef 
but  I  think  she  has  her  hands  full  to  man 
age  her  own  Children  Mr  Wm  Morgan 
Boarded  the  Gager  Boys  and  I  have  heard 
they  were  used  very  kindly  and  were  very 
loath  to  go  from  Mr  Morgans  when  M* 
Witter  took  them  to  board  at  his  house  if  I 
had  2  little  ones  to  put  out  to  board  and 
Nurse  I  should  be  as  willing  to  trust  Mre 
Morgan  as  any  one  I  am  acquainted  with 
I  make  no  doubt  but  she  would  undertake 
it  as  reasonably  as  any  one  in  this  place 


§ttmittgt0tt  Cotters.  71 


but  I  am  not  able  or  disposed  to  Meddle 
in  the  Matter  and  cant  take  care  of  my 
own  family  I  can  only  hint  at  the  many 
things  I  would  say  if  I  was  able 

I  am  your        ANNE  HUNTINGTON 

BENJN  HUNTINGTON  ESQR 


72  ®l)e  fpmttingt0n  £etters. 


XX. 

NEW  YORK  June  20^  1789 
MRS  HUNTINGTON 

I  Recd  no  letter  from  you  or  any  of  the 
Family  by  Capt  Niles  by  which  I  Conclude 
nothing  Extraordinary  had  happened  I 
am  in  hourly  Expectation  of  Culver  who  I 
hope  will  bring  good  News  that  you  are 
in  better  Health  &  that  the  Family  are 
Comfortable  I  have  nothing  worthy  of 
Notice  to  mention  at  Present  The  Papers 
will  Inform  what  has  been  doing  this  Week 
in  Congress*  we  are  giving  Every  thing 
into  the  Hands  of  the  President  which 
we  are  not  fit  to  manage  ourselves  Per 
haps  we  shall  find  this  will  lead  us  to  a 

*  The  first  Congress  under  the  Federal  Constitution 
met  at  New  York,  March  4,  1789. 


fltmtington  fitters.  73 


Greater  length  than  we  at  first  Conceited 
I  hope  but  dont  believe  we  are  acting 
wisely  in  Giving  Power  to  the  President* 
to  turn  out  the  Great  Officers  of  the 
United  States  at  Pleasure  without  giving 
any  Reason  for  it  we  are  told  that  he 
is  under  a  Sufficient  Check  by  being  Re 
sponsible  for  his  Conduct  I  wish  to  know 
how  much  Restraint  he  will  be  under  by 
his  Responsibility  when  he  has  an  Army 
at  Command  and  all  the  Officers  both 
Civil  &  Military  a  Set  of  his  own  Crea 
tures  Dependent  on  him  for  a  Subsistence 
in  their  Places,  and  with  a  Disposition  to 
Support  himself  in  Place  by  force  as  will 
be  the  Case  in  the  first  Instance  where  a 
President  is  Ambitious  and  finds  himself 
under  a  Probability  of  Failing  of  a  Re- 
Election,  but  why  should  I  Trouble  you 


*  Here  the  Hon.  Benjamin  Huntington  foreshadows  the 
dangers  and  difficulties  arising  from  the  extraordinary  ap 
pointing  powers  of  the  President.  He  apprehends  the 
growth  of  the  spoils  system. 


74  QMje  ^nntington  £etters. 

with  Politics    I  wish  I  was  not  Troubled 
with  them  myself ! 

I  shall  write  you  again  by  Culver  and 
am  at  Present  with  Sincear  Affection  your 
BENJ  HUNTINGTON 

MRS  A  HUNTINGTON 


^nntington  Cetters.  75 


XXI. 

NEW  YORK  July  ijtk 

MRS  HUNTINGTON 

I  Recd  your  letter  of  the  7th  Instant 
by  Capt  Culver  and  am  happy  to  hear 
you  are  gaining  Strength  and  hope  you 
will  be  favourable  to  yourself  I  am  fully 
Persuaded  that  your  not  Writing  to  me 
by  the  Packetts  was  no  fault  in  you  but 
it  was  a  greater  Disappointment  to  me 
that  no  body  from  the  Family  would  In- 
forme  me  What  your  State  of  Health  was 
than  any  disinterested  Person  would  be 
apt  to  Imagine  I  conceited  you  was 
growing  more  111  and  that  no  body  would 
Informe  me  of  it  lest  it  Should  give  me 
trouble  &  Perhaps  bring  me  home  when 
my  Presence  would  be  of  no  Service 


76  QTlje  Ijtmtington  Cetters. 

I  cannot  Say  when  I  shall  come  home 
there  is  talk  of  adjourning  in  September 
which  I  hope  will  be  the  case  and  if  it 
Should  be  so  I  am  in  Hopes  you  will  be 
well  Enough  to  go  with  me  to  New 
Havin  and  make  a  Visit  over  to  North 
Stratford  a  Week  or  two  in  October  whilst 
the  Assembly  sits  for  I  Suppose  I  must 
be  there  if  I  Come  home  before  the  As 
sembly  Rises  which  will  almost  Destroy 
my  whole  happiness  in  coming  home  un 
less  you  can  go  with  me  &  I  hope  you 
will  be  able  to  Ride  such  a  Journey  in  a 
Carriage  and  that  it  will  advance  your 
Health 

It  is  very  unexpected  to  be  Obliged  to 
be  in  this  Place  Six  Months  without  Re 
ceiving  a  farthing  Compensation  for  Time 
or  Service  but  I  hope  all  will  be  right  at 
last  and  that  I  shall  not  have  Occasion 
to  Repent  coming 

I  am  in  good  Health  and  can  Buckle 
my  Shoes  with  less  Trouble  than  I  have 


&lje  ^nntington  Ccttcrs.  77 

for  Some  years  Passd  haveing  in  a  great 
measure  got  Rid  of  the  Gout  &  Some  of 
my  bulk  tho.  but  little  of  the  latter  nor  am 
I  Cured  of  the  former  nor  do  I  Expect  I 
ever  shall — 

Capt  Bela  Turner  has  been  in  this  Place 
and  to  Philadelphia  about  three  or  four 
Weeks  Passd  with  a  letter  of  Credit  Signed 
by  one  Choat  who  is  not  known  to  any 
body  here  and  the  Merchants  have  not 
thought  proper  to  trust  him  goods  on  the 
Credit  of  it  I  heared  last  Evening  he  had 
a  turn  of  the  Fever  and  Ague  but  have 
not  seen  him  today  he  tells  me  his  Daugh 
ter  Anne  has  married  a  very  good  Man 
that  has  a  good  Farm  and  is  in  a  way  to 
gain  a  good  Subsistence — I  wish  he  him 
self  was  a  ditto — he  wanted  me  to  Write 
on  the  back  of  his  Letter  of  Credit  that  it 
was  a  good  &  Legal  one,  and  proposed  to 
pay  me  in  goods  for  the  old  Chaise  if  he 
Succeeded  in  getting  the  Goods  It  would 
have  been  a  very  fine  way  of  Collecting  a 


78 


Debt  of  £12  ...  o  ...  o  in  Goods,  for  me 
to  Subject  myself  to  the  Payment  of  as 
much  as  he  Should  Please  to  take  on  the 
Credit  of  a  Letter  Subscribed  or  Indorsed 
by  me  It  would  have  been  not  material 
to  the  Merchant  here  whether  Mr  Choat 
was  to  be  found  or  not  if  I  had  Indorsed  it 
and  was  able  to  pay  the  money  but,  to  do 
him  Justice,  after  I  had  Declined  writing 
my  opinion  on  the  Bill  as  to  its  Validity 
he  said  he  did  not  Desire  I  Should  do  any 
more  than  write  my  opinion  as  a  lawyer 
than  the  Doubts  of  the  Merchants  might 
by  that  means  be  removed  as  to  the  Legal- 
lity  of  its  form  This  I  Declined  as  I  was 
no  lawyer  in  New  Hampshire  and  had  no 
Right  to  give  an  Opinion  as  to  its  Oppera- 
tion  in  that  State  —  he  Desired  me  to  git 
Judge  Livermore's  Opinion  on  the  Sub 
ject.  And  to  Oblige  him,  I  went  to  Mr  Liv- 
ermore  with  the  Letter  of  Credit  he  said 
that  if  he  had  wrote  Such  a  Letter  himself 
it  would  be  good,  but  would  not  give  his 


fjmttington  fitters.  79 


opinion  in  Writing,  for  the  Same  Reason 
on  which  I  Declined  ;  Thus  I  have  told 
you  a  long  Story  which  I  don1  Desire  to 
told  again  &  have  wrote  this  in  Stead  of 
talk  and  Suppose  you  don1  desire  to  hear 
any  Thing  about  Politics  &  The  Papers 
will  tell  you  the  News  and  what  Fine  Din 
ners  were  Consumed  by  the  Cincinnati* 
on  the  4th  of  July  a  Time  in  which  if  their 
own  Accounts  of  themselves  may  be  Cred 
ited,  they  behaved  themselves  very  well  — 
Give  my  love  (for  to  my  Sorrow  I  have 
nothing  Else  which  I  Dare  Send)  to  the 
Children  &  Family 

From  your        BENJ  HUNTINGTON 

*  The  Society  of  the  Cincinnati,  established  by  officers 
of  the  army  at  the  close  of  the  Revolution  in  1783. 


8o  &|)e  |)tmtittgt0n  Betters. 


XXII. 

NEW  YORK  August  4^1  1789 

DEAR  SON 

Yours  of  the  2/th  of  July  has  been 
Recd  and  the  Contents  Observed  I  hope 
we  are  In  a  good  way  and  that  my  Debts 
will  all  be  paid  within  a  few  Months  The 
Duty  Acts  are  now  begining  to  opperate 
&  I  hope  to  Receive  some  Pay  for  my 
Service  but  what  it  will  be  is  not  yet 
known  There  is  so  much  Talk  in  the 
Country  about  the  Report  of  the  Com 
mittee  for  Six  Dollars  P  Day  *  that  I  Ex- 
pect  it  will  not  be  more  than  five,  what- 

*  The  Salaries  Bill,  passed  at  this  session,  stipulated 
$25,000  for  the  President,  $5,000  for  the  Vice-President, 
$6  a  day  for  members  of  the  Senate  and  the  House,  and 
$12  for  the  Speaker. 


®l)e  finntington  fetters.  81 

ever  it  is  must  be  Accepted  with  Patience 
but  People  ought  to  Consider  that  we  give 
up  all  Business  and  all  Prospects  besides 
the  Service  of  the  United  States  and  in  Case 
they  do  not  sit  more  than  two  or  three 
Months  in  a  year  as  is  Expected  will  be 
the  Case  our  Sacrifices  at  home  by  leaving 
all  other  Business  will  be  poorly  Compen 
sated  for ;  Especially  Professional  Men 
who  will  be  wholly  Defeated  in  their  Prac 
tice  at  home  by  being  gone  in  the  best 
Part  of  the  Year  for  their  Business  as 
Lawyers  &c  I  have  been  a  Slave  to  the 
Public  these  24  Years  Passd  and  Should 
now  have  been  perfectly  Poor,  if  I  had 
not  used  the  utmost  Economy  in  my  house 
and  if  I  am  worth  anything  it  is  not  the 
Public  Bounty  as  I  have  no  Reason  to 
Doubt  but  a  Steady  Practice  in  the  Law 
would  have  been  much  more  for  my  In 
terest  than  the  Business  I  have  Done 

I    hope    to   be    at    home    in   about   six 
Weeks  but  cannot   Probably  be  Allowed 


82  &l)e  IJmttittQton  Betters. 

my  full  Pay  at  Congress  by  that  Time 
but  it  will  be  good  Pay  at  Some  Time  or 
other  &  then  I  hope  to  put  the  Shops  in 
better  Business  than  at  Present — I  have 
Recd  a  Line  from  Harry  who  says  he  is 
going  to  Vermont  to  Prevent  any  Mis 
chief  in  Selling  our  Lands  in  that  State 
who  seem  to  have  adopted  a  System  of 
Knavery  about  Taxes  but  hope  to  Escape 
the  Effects  of  their  Villainy — I  hope  you 
and  all  the  Family  will  pay  the  utmost 
Attention  to  your  Mamma's  Health  &  think 
that  if  She  gits  health  at  this  Time  and 
in  September  She  may  be  Expected  to 
Recover  I  Doubt  not  but  that  you  all 
Consider  that  if  you  Should  loose  her  you 
never  can  have  the  loss  Repaired 
I  am  &c 

BENJ  HUNTINGTON 

MR  GURDON  HUNTINGTON 


^nntington  Cetters.  83 


XXIII. 

NORWICH  Feby  8th  1790 

DEAR  SIR 

The  Last  letter  I  recd  from  you  was 
dated  31*  Jan?  by  which  I  am  informd  you 
are  recovering  Slowly  from  your  disorder 
I  was  in  hopes  you  had  perfectly  recov- 
erd  but  as  you  justly  observe  Patience 
and  Resignation  to  Providence  is  our  duty 
I  have  been  taking  the  Bark  prepared  in 
a  different  manner  from  what  I  have  ever 
taken  it  and  I  have  gained  Strength  my 
fever  is  not  so  high  as  it  has  been  but  I 
have  at  this  time  a  Chill  coming  on  which 
makes  my  hand  tremble  so  that  I  can  write 
but  very  poorly  the  last  Letter  I  wrote 
you  I  never  expected  to  write  another  I 
had  been  raising  matter  that  appear*3  the 


84  fftlje  §tmtinjgt0n  Ceitera. 

same  as  that  which  comes  from  a  boil  and 
was  very  low  and  faint  I  am  of  the  same 
mind  I  was  then  as  to  what  my  disorder  is 
but  how  long  this  feble  thread  of  life  is  to 
be  extended  and  for  what  purpose  God 
only  knows  I  am  as  happy  as  I  can  be 
with  my  infirmities  in  your  absence  our 
Family  are  all  well  except  me.  I  want  to 
write  a  very  long  letter  but  am  not  able 
I  am  with  Sincere  Affection  &  respect 
your 

ANNE  HUNTINGTON 

BENJN  HUNTINGTON  ESQR 


$tmtimjt0n  Cetters.  85 


XXIV. 

NEW  YORK  Feby  s&h  1790 

DEAR  MRS  HUNTINGTON 

By  a  letter  from  Hary  &  two  others 
from  Gurdon  &  George  *  by  the  last  Post 
I  have  heared  from  you  that  you  are  much 
in  the  same  111  State  of  health  as  for  a 
month  passd  which  is  not  Surprizing  but  I 
hope  your  Case  is  not  Desperate  but  be 

*  Third  child,  George,  "  was  the  first  of  the  Huntington 
family  who  moved  into  central  New  York.  He  first  settled 
in  Whitestown,  in  1792,  then  the  most  important  of  all  the 
New  England  settlements  in  that  vicinity.  He  had  little 
or  no  property,  but  opened  a  store  as  agent  for  Mr.  Hyde, 
of  New  London.  In  the  succeeding  year  he  removed  to 
Fort  Stanwix,  near  Rome,  and  by  the  assistance  of  his  elder 
brother,  Henry,  established  himself  in  business."  .  .  .  The 
business  connection  of  Henry  and  George  Huntington,  under 
the  firm  of  George  Huntington  &  Co.,  continued  until  his 
death  in  1842.  He  was  known  as  "  the  patriarch  of  the 
village." — Huntington  Memoir,  p.  134. 


86  &!)<>  fltmtittgton  Betters. 

that  as  it  will,  I  know  it  is  my  duty  to 
Trust  you  in  the  hands  of  a  faithful  Crea 
tor  who  will  take  us  all  out  of  this  world 
when  he  Pleaseth.  1  hope  your  confidence 
in  the  great  Redeemer  of  Mankind  will  be 
well  grounded  and  unshaken — I  cannot 
say  when  I  shall  come  home  but  Hope  to 
See  you  in  May  or  June  and  that  you  will 
before  that  Recover  your  Health 

My  own  health  is  nearly  the  Same  as 
when  I  mentioned  to  you  that  I  was  Slow 
ly  Recovering  I  attend  Congress  every 
Day  where  there  are  good  Fires  but  can 
not  attend  Meeting  on  Sundays  being  so 
much  Troubled  with  the  Rheumatism  that 
I  cannot  Endure  Sitting  in  the  Cold  but 
hope  to  get  the  better  of  it  in  a  Short 
Time— 

I  am  deprived  of  a  great  Satisfaction 
which  I  Should  take  (were  it  possible)  to 
see  you  and  spend  the  Time  in  admistring 
some  Degree  of  comfort  to  you  in  your 
Sickness  but  we  must  be  contented  with 


gtmtington  £etters.  87 


the  Allotments  of  Providence  to  whose 
divine  Protection  you  are  most  heartily 
Recommended  by 

Your  Affectionate 

BENJ  HUNTINGTON 

MRS  ANNE  HUNTINGTON 


88  (Elje  {jtmtington  Betters. 


XXV. 

NEW  YORK  March  6*k  1790 

DEAR  MRS  HUNTINGTON 

By  a  line  from  Harry  by  last  Post  I 
was  very  happy  to  hear  you  had  been  more 
comfortable  than  usual  I  hope  you  are 
really  in  better  health  than  when  I  left 
home  I  have  sent  you  half  a  Dozen  of 
best  Madeira  by  Capt  Parker  and  would 
have  you  send  for  more  if  needed  or  for 
anything  I  can  Procure  for  your  health  or 
Comfort  I  hope  you  are  mistaken  in  your 
Conclusion  that  you  shall  not  Recover. 
Mre  Harding  tells  me  her  Sister  Rockwell 
was  (once)  Supposed  to  be  in  a  fixed  Con 
sumption  but  Recovered ;  it  has  been  the 
Case  with  many  others  who  have  recov 
ered  &  I  hope  to  see  you  again  in  Perfect 
health— 


fltmtington  £etter0.  89 


Our  lives  are  but  Short  at  the  longest  ; 
but  to  have  useful  Lives  cut  off  before  they 
are  arrived  to  the  Age  of  Man  is  a  most  af 
flicting  loss  to  friends  and  to  the  Public  ; 
the  tender  Thread  is  so  easily  broken  that 
none  of  us  even  in  the  Meridian  of  life  and 
vigor  of  health  can  presume  with  Safety 
on  an  hour's  Continuance  in  this  World 
we  ought  to  wait  with  Patience  our  ap 
pointed  Time  and  be  ready  at  the  Call  of 
heaven  to  leave  these  Tabernacles  of  Clay 
which  must  be  shaken  off  at  some  Time  or 
other  it's  not  best  for  us  to  know  when, 
nor  is  it  our  Duty  to  be  Gloomy  at  the 
Thoughts  of  Mortality  a  Christian  life  may 
be  Cheerful  and  I  think  ought  to  be  so  ; 
we  ought  to  spend  this  life  in  Praising  the 
Deity  which  is  by  no  means  a  Melancholly 
Employment. 

To  leave  you  in  a  Declining  State  as  I 
Supposed  I  did  when  I  parted  with  you 
was  to  me  a  most  painful  Circumstance  I 
anticipated  the  heaviest  bereavement  I 


90  ftlje  4§mttittjgt0n  Betters. 

could  Conceive  of  among  humane  losses. 
I  am  now  much  Encouraged  concerning 
your  Recovery  &  hope  on  my  Return  to 
find  you  able  to  Ride  out  for  your  health 
and  to  have  as  many  happy  Days  in  carry 
ing  you  abroad  as  I  have  had 

My  love  to  the  Children  &  Family 
I  am  your  Affectionate 

BENJ  HUNTINGTON 

MRS  ANNE  HUNTINGTON 


Bunting  ton  £etters.  91 


XXVI. 

NEW  YORK  March  14*11 

DEAR  M*3  HUNTINGTON 

I  Recd  no  letter  by  the  last  Post  from 
any  of  our  Family  but  by  a  letter  from  the 
Govr  *  and  another  from  Col  Leffingwell 
I  was  informed  that  you  Remained  in  much 
the  Same  State  of  health  as  when  I  left 
home  which  I  think  is  not  by  any  means 
discouraging— I  am  however  exceedingly 
concerned  for  you  but  hope  to  see  you  in 
better  health  on  my  Return  but  cannot 
Say  when  that  will  be  but  Expect  it  will 
be  in  May  or  June — I  am  in  better  health 
than  when  I  left  home,  am  obliged  to  be 
very  careful  of  myself  and  not  expose 

*  Samuel  Huntington. 


92  ®l)£  Ijtmtington 


(myself)  to  the  Cold  or  wet  We  have  no 
(News  of)  Importance  —  I  hope  &  trust  you 
will  be  enabled  to  endure  with  a  becoming 
Patience  the  Distresses  of  your  Infirmity  & 
that  all  the  Divine  Dispensations  towards 
you  may  be  so  Improved  as  to  promote 
your  happiness  both  temporal  &  Eternal  — 
I  am  very  unhappy  in  being"  Separated 
from  you  at  a  time  when  you  Stand  in 
greater  need  of  my  Services  aid  &  Sup 
port  than  ever  before  —  My  love  to  the 
Children 

I  am  most  Affectionately 

Your  BENJ  HUNTINGTON 

MRS  ANNE  HUNTINGTON 


^nntington  Cctters.  93 


XXVII. 

NEW  YORK  April  gth  1790 

DEAR  M*s  HUNTINGTON 

By  Mr  Emmerson  of  N  London  I  send 
you  another  Scrawl  without  News  for  we 
have  none  our  August  House  is  going  on 
Steady  Steady  and  as  Slow  as  Steady  In 
hopes  of  Rising  at  Some  Time  or  other 
I  had  a  letter  from  Harry  by  Capt  Parker 
in  which  he  says  you  are  in  the  same 
State  of  health  as  for  Some  Time  passd  I 
was  in  hopes  of  your  gaining  health  and 
Strength  and  am  anxious  Still  to  hear  that 
is  the  Case — cannot  the  Doctors  Contrive 
Something  that  will  restore  the  Coats 
and  Juices  of  your  Stomach  to  a  proper 
temper  that  your  Food  might  become 
more  nourishing  I  think  that  such  a  Step 


94  ®1)£  *5tmtittjgt0tt 


would  put  you  in  a  Way  to  gain  Flesh 
and  with  it  you  might  Expect  Health  to 
be  Restored  Would  you  like  any  Porter 
or  wine  or  any  Thing  which  I  can  send 
from  this  Place  which  you  fancy  would 
be  Palatable  I  beleive  such  things  as 
agree  with  your  appetite  will  be  most 
Nourishing  and  Probably  tend  to  correct 
the  Disorders  of  the  Stomach  and  Re- 
plinish  the  Body  with  wholsome  Juices  — 
But  I  am  writing  of  things  I  know  noth 
ing  of  but  from  my  own  Reason  upon 
the  Subject  Pray  let  me  know  if  you 
have  a  Desire  for  any  thing  I  can  Send 
and  it  Shall  be  Sent  I  have  money  and  can 
Send  what  you  want  and  have  no  thoughts 
of  witholding  any  of  the  Comforts  or  Con 
veniences  which  you  Desire  —  When  I 
begin  to  Write  to  you  I  know  not  how  to 
leave  off  I  have  no  other  way  of  talking  to 
you  and  so  take  the  liberty  of  talking  too 
much  as  I  fear  — 

Pray  let  Harry  know  I   have  Recd  his 


(Elje  ijuntington  Cctters.  95 

Letter  with  the  Inclosed  final  settlement 
Certif1  and  sold  it  at  7/6  for  the  Principal 
and  6/  for  the  Interest  and  am  to  have  the 
Money  in  Time  to  Send  home  by  Capt 
Parker  by  whom  I  Shall  send  it  with  his 
other  Money  which  I  have  Recd 
I  am  you  Affectionate 

BENJ  HUNTINGTON 

MRS  HUNTINGTON 


96  &l)£  ^nntington  betters. 


XXVIII. 

NEW  YORK  May  25*^  ijgo 

DEAR  MRS  HUNTINGTON 

Your  kind  letter  of  the  igih  with  the 
Post  Script  of  the  22d  Instant  was  this  Day 
Recd  at  the  hand  of  Capt  Perkins  which 
with  the  unfavourable  News  I  have  by  the 
Norwich  People  concerning  your  health  is 
Affecting  indeed ;  but  don't  let  this  trouble 
you  I  have  Pleasure  Even  in  the  Pangs 
of  Sorrow  when  felt  for  the  beloved  Ob 
ject  of  my  Esteem  and  Affection — 

Pardon  (my  dear)  these  Emanations  of 
an  Anxious  heart  and  let  your  Confidence 
be  in  him  who  was  dead  and  is  alive  & 
lives  forevermore  —  The  dreary  road  of 
Man  to  Bliss  is  through  this  Vale  of  tears 

The  Time  will  come  when  the  King  of 


ijjtttttington  Betters.  97 


Terrors  shall  loose  his  frightful  Form  and 
his  deadly  Sting  Shall  hurt  no  more  Then 
shall  we  have  Beauty  for  Ashes  and  the 
Oyl  of  Joy  for  the  spirit  of  heaviness  —  All 
the  Days  of  our  appointed  Time  will  we 
wait,  till  our  change  comes  —  If  you  Should 
go  before  I  am  sure  to  follow  when  I  have 
accomplished  as  an  Hireling  my  Day  — 
Man  cometh  forth  like  a  Flower  &  is  cut 
down  he  fleeth  like  a  Shaddow  and  con- 
tinueth  not  —  May  the  Lord  be  your 
Strength  upon  the  bed  of  languishing  and 
when  flesh  &  heart  shall  fail  may  God  be 
the  Strength  of  your  heart  and  your  Por 
tion  forever  and  though  we  are  Sorrowful 
now  yet  may  our  Sorrow  be  turned  into 
Joy  T-  When  the  great  Redeemer  was 
Scourged  by  wicked  men  and  Suffered  on 
Mount-Calvery  the  Chatisement  of  our 
Peace  was  then  upon  him  &  by  his  Stripes 
we  are  healed,  to  this  only  Source  of  our 
Salvation  can  we  look  for  that  Peace 
which  the  world  cannot  give  nor  take 


98  ®l)e  Bunting  ton  Cetters. 

away.     May  God  Almighty  grant  you  all 
Joy  and  Peace  in  Beleiving 

We  have  lived  many  Years  in  great 
Harmony  arid  I  hope  &  Trust  not  without 
that  love  which  is  beyond  the  Power  of 
Death  to  Extinguish — I  have  the  most 
grateful  Satisfaction  in  your  Love  towards 
me  at  all  Times,  that  it  has  been  with  that 
ardent  Affection  which  has  its  Foundation 
in  the  purest  Principles  of  Conjugal  Friend 
ship  and  Fidelity  improved  by  the  Pre 
cepts  taught  us  by  our  great  Lord  and 
Master  ;  But  I  most  sincearly  lament  my 
own  Defects  of  Duty  towards  you  and 
have  in  the  whole  Course  of  our  Connec 
tion  been  mortified  that  1  had  it  not  in 
my  Power  to  Render  your  Life  more 
happy — A  kind  Providence  has  been  Suf 
ficiently  Bountiful  and  we  have  abundant 
Reason  of  Thankfulness — Accept  (my  dear) 
of  my  tender  and  most  hearty  acknowl 
edgement  of  all  your  kindnesses  and  to  our 
Children  who  have  (for  aught  I  know) 


^untington  Ceitcrs.  99 


grown  up  in  Virtuous  Habits  under  your 
Parental  Assiduity  of  Care  and  Govern 
ment 

I  hope  and  expect  to  See  you  in  the 
course  of  a  few  Weeks  and  in  the  mean 
Time  must  commit  you  to  the  kind  Pro 
tection  of  the  Father  of  Spirits 

I  should  come  home  Immediately  to 
See  you  for  a  few  Days  if  for  the  best,  but 
cannot  Sustain  the  Idea  of  another  Parting 

I  am  your  most  Affectionate  Sincear 
and  faithful  Friend  &  Consort 

BENJ  HUNTINGTON 

P  S     May  29th  1790 

I  Approve  of  your  doings  with  the 
Shawls  &  Callicoes  &c  and  am  glad  you 
concluded  to  Make  you  a  loose  Gown  of 
Part  of  the  Callicoes  I  have  purchased 
and  Sent  by  Erastus  Perkins  a  Pair  of 
Shoes  which  are  as  near  as  I  could  guess 
of  a  Size  to  fit  your  foot  and  hope  they 
will  be  easy  to  your  feet  if  they  are  too 


ioo  f&fy  gunlington  fitters. 

Small,  Send  for  a  larger  Pair  and  I  can 
Send  them  in  a  few  Days — 

I  have  purchased  a  Barrel  of  Flour  and 
a  Piece  of  Course  Linin  which  I  Suppose 
will  be  nearly  what  you  wanted  I  think 
it  good  &  it  Cost  i/i  i  J  £  Money  P  Yard 
I  also  have  Sent  you  a  Coffee  Mill  which 
Gurdon  can  fix  up  on  Some  Studd  or  Post 
in  the  Garret 

I  Shall  not  think  it  Strange  if  you  dont 
write  often  to  me  nor  would  I  have  you 
make  any  Exertions  of  that  kind  I  cannot 
Desire  it — 

Your  Affectionate 

B    HUNTINGTON 

MRS  HUNTINGTON 


^nntington  jC-cticra. 


XXIX. 

NEW  YORK  June  26^  [23?]  '79° 

DEAR  MRS  HUNTINGTON 

By  Capt  Perkins  I  Recd  no  letter  but 
Mr  Thomas  Lathrop  &  his  wife  &  Mrs  Han 
nah  Huntington  came  with  him  and  In 
form  that  they  have  lately  seen  you  riding- 
out  by  which  I  conclude  you  are  in  no 
worse  health  than  when  I  heared  from  you 
last— 

I  was  mentioning  your  Case  to  a  Lady 
of  the  Name  of  Bedlow  who  said  She  had 
a  Julep  which  was  a  most  Powerful  thing 
for  present  Relief  in  the  Chollic  and  was 
kind  Enough  to  furnish  me  with  a  Recipe 
by  which  I  have  got  the  Articles  put  up 
and  Sent  it  to  you  fitted  to  take  a  Dose  is 
a  table  Spoon  full  at  once  I  have  Sent 


home  the  Recipe  and  wish  it  may  be  kept 
Safe  and  that  you  would  let  Dr  Tracy  See 
it  and  take  his  advice  before  taking  any 
lest  there  might  be  Some  of  the  Articles  it 
contains  improper  for  you  I  have  a  bad 
opinion  of  Quackery  and  would  not  have 
the  medicine  used  without  advice  It  was 
used  by  a  Very  famous  Physician  for  Mrs 
Be[d]low  in  a  very  difficult  Case  and  gave 
her  Immediate  Relief  and  She  has  used 
the  Same  for  the  Chollic  more  than  thirty 
years  and  it  always  has  the  same  Effect — 

I  am  in  hopes  of  Coming  home  in  two 
or  three  Weeks  or  in  the  Month  of  July 
but  cannot  Say  when — I  in  comfortable 
health  but  a  little  Troubled  with  the  Bil- 
lious  disorder  but  hope  to  git  quite  Rid 
of  it  when  1  come  home  and  Relax  from 
Health  and  as  happy  as  I  Can  be  at  so 
Great  a  Distance  from  my  most  Agreeable 
Connections  —  The  Inclosed  Paper  Con 
tains  the  News  of  the  Day  Mr  Chapman 
brings  this  and  Can  Informe  you  whether 


Ijuntiugton  Ccttcrs.  103 


I  Appear  to  be  as  Fat  as  Ever  —  I  Confess 
I  Pitty  the  Horse  that  Brings  home  the 
heavy  Load  ! 

The  Speculators  Exhibit  Long  Faces  on  the 
Arrival  of  two  or  three  Ships  from  Europe 
Laden  with  Dry  Goods  which  has  put  at 
least  a  Temporary  Stop  to  their  Sale  of 
Goods  at  Extortionnous  Prices  —  The  Man 
who  Deals  Justly  Loves  Mercy  &  Walks 
Humbly  is  of  all  Flesh  the  Most  unsuitable 
Person  to  Manage  a  Trade  in  the  Present 
Times  —  I  am  told  a  Law  has  Passed  in 
Connecticut  Exempting  Such  Persons  as 
Refuse  to  Purchase  British  Goods  for  a 
Certain  Time,  from  Part  of  their  Taxes  I 
wish  you  to  Look  at  that  Law  &  take  the 
Benefit  of  it  if  Possible,  but  Dont  Subject 
yourself  to  any  Inconveniences  for  a  Trifle 
or  if  a  Compliance  with  that  Law  should 
Involve  you  in  any  Thing  low  or  out  of 
Character  I  wish  you  to  have  no  Con 
cern  with  it  — 

My  Duty  to   my  Mother  and  Love  to 


104  ®b*  Ijunlingion  Ccttets. 

the  Children  Each  one  in  Particular  I 
wish  Gurdon  would  Write  Line  or  two 
as  well  as  he  Can  and  Send  by  Mr  Brown 
— The  Boys  here  Dont  write  like  him 

My   Regards   to   Capt   Abel    Mr  Wet. 
more  &c — 

This  From  your  BENJ  HUNTINGTON 


(Elje  fjnntington  Cettcrs.  105 


XXX. 

Anne  Huntington  died  at  Norwich,  October  6, 
1  790.  Benjamin  now  writes  to  his  daughter,  Rachel, 
not  quite  twelve  years  of  age. 


PHILADA  Feby  4^ 

MY  DEAR  DAUGHTER 

Your  Letter  of  28th  of  Jany  was  this 
Day  Received  P  Post  It  is  very  pleasing 
to  receive  letters  from  my  children  by 
them  I  learn  the  condition  the  family  is 
in,  and  if  they  are  well  and  comfortable  it 
adds  cause  of  thankfulness  of  heart  to  the 
great  preserver  of  men,  or  if  unwell  or 
under  any  calamity  my  attention  to  their 
Remedy  is  excited  and  may  often  be  im 
proved  to  advantage,  the  great  distance  of 
this  Place  from  my  home  makes  me  more 


106  OTl)e  ^untington  Cetters. 

anxious  to  hear  from  you  and  less  able  to 
afford  the  assistance  you  may  need,  but 
the  time  is  not  very  distant  when  I  shall 
return  &  I  hope  be  happy  in  finding  the 
Dear  objects  of  my  care  and  fondest 
wishes  in  health  and  Increasing  in  knowl 
edge  and  usefulness,  I  hope  my  dear  child 
you  don't  forget  to  pay  due  Attention  to 
those  precepts  of  Religion  &  Virtue  which 
your  dear  mama  so  often  inculcated  on 
your  young  &  tender  mind,  may  her  in 
structions  never  be  forgotten,  and  may 
those  earnest  prayers  and  Supplications 
which  she  put  up  to  the  throne  of  grace 
for  you  and  for  all  of  us,  ever  remain  there 
as  precious  memorials  in  our  behalf.  The 
loss  of  earthly  Parents  and  Friends  is 
heavy  &  very  distressing,  but  it  is  all  in 
the  Course  of  Nature  and  must  be  ex 
pected,  but  when  we  consider  that  these 
Afflictions  are  administered  by  the  hand  of 
that  God  who  is  our  best  and  everlasting 
friend  and  Parent  we  may  take  comfort 


^nntingtou  fitters.  107 


from  it  &  be  Satisfied  that  his  dispensa 
tions  are  meant  for  our  good  and  that  the 
Judge  of  all  the  earth  cannot  but  do  right 
let  us  not  despise  his  chastenings  nor  for 
get  our  duty  towards  him  —  Give  my  love 
to  all  the  Family  &  tell  them  I  am  getting 
better  daily  &  have  almost  Recovered  my 
voice  — 

I  am  perfectly  willing  Mr  Jabez  Tracy 
should  Marry  Mre  Mc  Bride  if  they  are 
both  so  in  love  as  to  be  in  the  Fidgets 
unless  they  marry.  This  Subject  may  be 
thought  too  Ludicrous  to  follow  the  Seri 
ous  matter  next  above  but  Marriage  is  of 
divine  Institution  and  in  that  View  is  a 
Serious  Concern  it  is  Serious  in  every 
view  and  ought  never  to  take  Place  but 
when  the  Affections  of  the  Parties  are  so 
deeply  rooted  and  firmly  fixed  as  to  be 
able  to  overlook  and  forgive  a  Multitude 
of  disagreeables  which  will  arise  in  the 
Course  of  humane  affairs  and  be  very 
afflicting  unless  the  Parties  are  determined 


io8  (Efye  Ijnntington  Cettera. 

to  live  in  Peace  in  Spite  of  all  the  disturb 
ers  of  domestic  happiness 

I  am  my  dear  child  with  the  tenderest 
concern  your  affectionate  Parent 

BENJ  HUNTINGTON 

Miss  RACHEL  HUNTINGTON. 


£)untingt0n  Betters.  109 


XXXI. 

George  Huntington  has  moved  to  Whitestown,  in 
the  State  of  New  York. 

WHITES  TOWN  June  10.  1792 
HON   SIR 

Your  esteemed  fav  of  5  Ult°  is  received 
p  Mr  Chesebrough,  by  the  News  Paper  I 
discover  that  the  party  against  Gov  Wol- 
cott  have  failed  in  their  undertaking,  this 
pleased  me  because  I  suppose  it  is  the 
same  Junto  that  opposed  your  election  last 
year,  I  hope  by  this  time  the  Freemen  dis 
cover  their  unfair  intreague  so  as  not  to 
be  influenced  by  them  I  wish  to  hear  how 
the  votes  run  for  the  Nomination  of  Repre 
sentative  to  Congress  and  for  Assistants  & 
wheathr  Mr  L — d  was  Nominated  by  a 
larger  number  than  you,  I  think  he  has 


no  &t)e  Duntington  Alters. 

made  so  little  noise  in  Congress  his 
Friends  must  again  lift  hard  to  support 
him  the  next  election — 

I  have  now  been  Twelve  weeks  from 
Norwich  &  Mr  Hyde  has  not  arived.  I 
expect  him  dayly  but  with  no  more  reason 
than  I  did  seven  weeks  ago.  I  was  here 
three  weeks  without  doing  any  business 
then  I  opened  Goods  and  am  selling  with 
tolerable  incouragement  I  have  estab 
lished  a  good  character  for  the  shop  & 
perhaps  have  done  as  well  as  if  Hyde  had 
been  here — I  want  nothing  but  the  com 
pany  of  my  near  Friends  to  make  me  very 
contented  in  this  country,  within  a  few 
rods  where  I  live  there  are  Two  Attor 
neys.  Two  Doctors  who  Drugists  &  a 
merchant,  all  very  respectable  well  edu 
cated  young  Men  these  added  to  a  Num 
ber  respectable  Farmers  make  a  very  good 
society,  besides  almost  every  day  there 
are  Gentlemen  from  N  York,  Albany,  or 
N  England  traveling  into  this  Country  & 


(Eljc  ^nntington  Cetters.  m 

to  the  Genesee.  all  make  a  stand  here 
many  stay  Two  or  three  days  to  Recruit, 
this  affords  a  variety  in  our  company  and 
gives  us  the  News  and  will  make  this  a 
Place  of  consequence — since  my  last  I  have 
obtained  the  Census  of  Whites  Town,  in 
Septembr  1790  there  were  1840  Inhabitants 
May  91.  3875.  May  92.  5743  many  who 
have  moved  into  this  country  the  last  year 
have  settled  without  the  limits  of  the  dis 
trict  where  the  census  is  taken,  this  de 
ceived  Judge  White  who  told  me  there 
would  be  8000  inhabitants  this  year — the 
increase  is  now  very  rapid  in  the  district 
where  there  was  one  Cap1  Compay  of  sol 
diers  3  years  ago  there  is  now  Two  Regi 
ments  of  eight  large  companys  each,  the 
soldiers  are  all  Young  active  Men  fit  for 
duty,  this  makes  us  sufficiently  strong  to 
defend  us  from  the  Indians  was  they  dis 
posed  to  Quarrel — 

I  am  in  good  health  my  Friends  tell  me 
I  srrow  fat  fast  am  anxious  to  hear  from 


112 


^untington  £etters. 


Norwich  every  Opportunity.  Please  to 
give  my  love  to  all  Brothers  &  Sisters  I 
have  received  no  letters  from  them  except 
one  from  Lucy — I  am  with  the  strongest 
Filial  Affection  &  Respect  your 

Son        GEO  HUNTINGTON 

BENJAMIN  HUNTINGTON  ESQR 


SECOND   PERIOD. 

1796-1798. 


CONTAINING  MAINLY  THE  LETTERS  WRITTEN  BY 
RACHEL  HUNTINGTON  TO  HER  SISTERS,  LUCY 
AND  ANNE  (NANCY). 


SECOND   PERIOD. 

1796-1798. 


I. 

Rachel  Huntington,  seventeen  years  of  age,  pays  a 
visit  to  her  brother,  Henry,  in  New  York,  and  writes  to 
her  sisters,  Lucy  and  Anne,  in  Norwich. 


NEW  YORK  November  igt 

MY  DEAR  SISTERS 

this  is  the  first  time  I  have  had  leasure 
to  write  to  you,  since  I  parted  from  you 
at  Norwich,  perhaps  by  this  time,  a  little 
narrative  of  my  adventures,  will  not  be 
ungratefull  to  you.  —  About  thre  hours 
after  Cousin  Alice  &  I  left  you,  we  ar 
rived  at  New  London  ;  we  went  immedi 
ately  to  Mr  Laws,  made  a  good  visit,  & 
about  four  o  clock  P  M  embarked  for  N 
York,  which  we  reached  in  1  5  hours  ;  we 
went  directly  to  Brother  Henry's,  &  Alice, 


u6  f£|)£  43untinjgt0tt  letters. 

finding  on  enquiry  that  Mr  W  Fitch's 
family  were  at  Stamford  &  Mre  Watsons, 
about  setting  out  for  Bethlehem,  concluded 
to  take  up  her  abode  with  me  while  we 
stay  in  town — Monday  &  Tuesday  we 
went  a  shopping  all  about  town,  Wensday 
morning  went  to  Mr  Watsons,  &  in  the 
evening  to  the  Theatre,  where  the  tragedy 
of  the  Earl  of  Essex,  (founded  on  the  story 
of  Queen  Elizabeth,  &  the  Earl  of  Essex,) 
or  the  unhappy  favorite,  &  the  Padlock 
a  musical  entertainment  were  performed 
with  considerable  applause — I  confess  to 
you,  I  was  not  so  delighted  with  the  play, 
as  I  expected  to  be,  but  there  are  very  few 
plays,  that  have  nothing  disgusting  in 
them — I  spent  Thursday  at  Mr  W  Wolsey's 
with  Mrs  John  Davenport,  her  daughter 
Mary  Davenport,  Cousin  Alice,  &  Miss 
Patty  Dwight,  a  niece  of  Mre  Wolsey's, 
from  North  Hampton — last  night  we  were 
again  at  the  Theatre,  &  were  entertained 
with  the  Comedy  of  the  young  quaker,  & 


(Tlje  ^untingtcn  £ettcr0.  117 

my  Grandmother,  a  whimsical,  well  per 
formed,  farce, — I  believe  you  will  think 
dissipation  has  got  fast  hold  of  me,  but 
do  not  be  troubled,  I  will  shake  it  off 
whenever  it  is  necessary — 

1  have  bought  a  camels  hair  shawl  for 
Lucy,  &  some  lace,  which  I  shall  send  by 
Culver,  I  shall  buy  some  knitting  nedles 
for  Nancy,  &  also  a  brown  beaver  hat  if  I 
can  find  one  that  I  think  would  suit  her ;  I 
have  been  to  Mr  Tiffin's  for  one,  &  he 
has  none  but  sattin  beavers,  which  are  ex 
travagantly  dear  &  in  my  opinion  not  so 
good  as  the  other  kind — I  will  enquire 
further  &  if  I  cant  find  a  brown  hat  to  suit 
my  fancy,  shall  buy  a  green  one,  like  one  I 
purchased  for  myself — 

I  think  it  is  probale  Miss  Cogswell  [and] 
I  shall  go  to  Stamford  about  the  middle  of 
next  week,  but  cannot  certainly  tell — I'd 
like  to  have  forgot  to  tell  you  that  Doctor 
Brown  has  been  here,  &  brought  me  a 
letter  from  Benjamin,  &  I  wrote  by  him  to 


n8  ftlje  4gtmtittjgt0n  Betters. 

Ben — He  desired  me  to  give  his  compli 
ments  to  Father  &  Nancy,  he  says  he 
thinks  it  very  probable,  brother  George  & 
Lady  visit  Norwich  this  winter,  so  I  told 
him  Lucy  would  return  with  them,  if  they 
should, — O  sisters !  if  I  could  see  you  but 
for  one  hour,  what  pleasure  it  would  give 
me — 

I  am  engaged  to  spend  the  day  at  Mr 
Cotton's  tomorrow,  it  is  quite  late  &  I 
must  rise  early — Give  my  duty  to  Father, 
love  to  brother  &  sister,  &  their  children 
&  believe  me  most  affectionately  your 

sister 

RACHEL  HUNTINGTON 

MISSES  L  &  A  HUNTINGTON 


ijmuington  Cetters.  119 


II. 


NEW  YORK  December  gt 

MY  DEAR  SISTERS 

by  Mr  Carew  I  have  just  time  to  write 
you  a  few  lines  to  inform  you  where  I  am, 
&  that  I  shall  stay  a  fortnight  longer  in 
New  York,  you  must  not  be  surprised  if 
your  sister  should  spend  the  winter  at 
Bachelors  Hall,  at  present  I  certainly  have 
no  expectations  of  it,  nor,  on  my  arrival 
here,  did  I  intend  to  stay  any  longer  than 
a  week.  Last  night  there  was  the  most 
dreadfull  fire  that  has  been  known  for  a 
great  many  years,  forty,  or  fifty  houses  & 
stores  were  burnt,  &  a  great  many  poor 
families,  turn'd  out  of  doors  ;  at  present 
nobody,  is  able  to  make  any  estimate  of  the 
losses,  they  must  certainly  be  very  great  — 


120  ®l)£  $muittgt0n 


It  was  about  one  o  clock,  when  the  cry  of 
fire  was  heard,  our  family  rose  immediate 
ly,  the  gentlemen  ran  to  the  fire,  &  Mrs 
Duncan,  Miss  Cogswell  &  myself  to  the 
top  of  the  house,  from  whence  we  had  a 
full  view  of  the  City  which  was  perfectly 
illuminated,  the  tops  of  the  houses  being 
covered  with  snow  gave  a  fine  appearance 
to  the  scene  —  I  can  hardly  concieve  a  more 
beautifully  sublime  object  there  are  thre 
or  four  poeple  talking  in  the  room  where  I 
am  writing  which  may  serve  as  an  apology 
for  the  inacuracy  of  this  letter  —  You  cant 
tell  how  much  I  was  disappointed  at  not 
receiving  any  letters  by  Charles  Carew, 
you  must  not  disappint  me  so  any  more  if 
you  should  I  am  determined  it  shall  not 
lessen  the  number  of  my  beautifull  litter  ary 
productions  —  Cousin  Carew  promised  to  call 
for  this  at  ten  o  clock,  it  is  now  past  ten, 
&  as  he  does  not  appear  I  believe  I  may  as 
well  write  on  —  Last  monday  afternoon  as 
Alice  &  myself  were  out  a  shopping  we 


£ettcrs.  121 


happened  to  meet  Miss  Betsey  Rogers  & 
cousins,  Eliza  &  Betsey  Davenport  Miss 
Rogers  ivited  us  to  call  &  take  tea  with 
her,  &  we  accepted  her  invitation  &  in  the 
evening  had  a  most  agreeable  little  ball 
Miss  Rogers  was  the  musician  a  harpsi 
chord  the  instrument  —  I  have  bought  a 
black  beaver  hat  for  Nancy  &  shall  sent  it 
by  Niles,  it  is  a  very  pretty  one  my  letter 
is  calld  for.  adieu  your  most  affectionate 
sister 

R    HUNTINGTON. 


122  Stye  ijuntington  Cetters. 


III. 


Rachel  Huntington  is  on  a  visit  at  the  house  of 
Major  John  Davenport,  of  Stamford. 


STAMFORD  January  3* 

MY  DEAR  SISTERS 

Mr  Thomas  has  just  calld  here  for  letters 
to  carry  to  you.  I  wrote  two  or  thre 
days  ago  a  letter  which  I  have  given  him 
&  am  now  seated  in  Major  Davenports 
Office,  scribbling  again  —  Mr  Thomas  tells 
me  he  heard  Brother  George  &  Lady,  had 
set  out  for  Norwich,  &  that  Col  Colebirth 
told  it  him  in  N  York  —  I  wish  it  were  pos 
sible  for  me  to  be  present  to  partake  in  the 
pleasure  such  a  visit  must  give  you,  but  as 
it  is  not,  I  must  content  myself  without  it, 
wish  you  a  full  enjoyment  of  it,  &  please 
myself  with  idea  that  you  are  happy  — 


123 


Present  my  congratulations  to  Miss  Char 
lotte  Tracy,  &  tell  her  I  remember  the 
agreement  of  the  "6th  of  July  1796"  — 
The  news  concerning  Mr  Eels  &  Miss  R 
gives  me  pleasure  tho  it  does  not  sur 
prise  me. 

You  wish  to  know  whether  I  saw  our 
Cousin  Wetmores,  I  saw  Victory,  &  Rob 
ert,  at  the  Play  House,  the  former  came 
to  our  box  &  had  quite  a  long  conversa 
tion  with  me,  he  informed  me  Prosper  & 
his  family  were  at  Stratford,  &  that  all  our 
friends  there  were  well,  but  not  a  look 
could  I  get  from  Bob,  'tho  he  sat  directly 
opposite  me,  &  I  stared  him  full  in  the 
face  severall  times  —  There  is  a  fine  body 
of  snow  on  the  ground,  &  we  are  quite 
apprehensive  of  Company  from  New  York, 
a  party  of  our  friends  having  engaged  to 
visit  us  the  first  sleighing,  when  we  are  to 
have  a  Ball  I  say  we  are  "  apprehensive  " 
of  thier  coming  before  Alice's  &  my  own 
trunk  arrive  as  we  have  but  very  few 
9 


124  Stye  §untingl0n  jLetters. 

cloaths  here,  &  those  not  very  Tippy — We 
have  spent  this  day  at  Mag  Davenports,  it 
grows  late  enough  for  us  to  think  of  tak 
ing  our  departure,  &  I  believe  it  behoveth 
me  to  finish  my  letter,  I  shall  keep  letters 
written,  by  me,  for  future,  &  send  them 
every  opportunity  if  you  will  do  the  same, 
you  will  much  oblige  &  gratify  your  ever 
affectionate  Sister 

R   HUNTINGTON 

MISSES  L  &  A  HUNTINGTON 


^juntingtott  Ccttcta. 


IV. 

NEW  HAVEN  /o»^  6^  7797 

DEAR  SON 

Your  Letter  of  the  first  Instant  was 
handed  to  me  after  the  Mail  for  New  Lon 
don  was  gone  which  Prevented  me  from 
an  Immedeate  answer  but  as  soon  as  I 
could  I  wrote  to  Lucy  by  a  Mr  Allyn  of 
this  Place  who  was  to  go  &  I  suppose  is 
gone  this  Day  for  N  London  but  lest  the 
letter  by  him  should  fail  I  now  think  it 
best  to  put  this  into  the  Post  Office  for 
the  Next  Mail  I  am  most  heartily  sorry 
not  to  See  you  and  your  Wife  before  your 
Return  but  must  Consider  it  as  an  un 
avoidable  Misfortune  I  wrote  Lucy  My 
Consent  that  She  shall  go  with  you  tho, 
she  has  A  Right  to  do  as  she  Pleases  as 


126  &[)e  gnntington  £etters. 

she  is  of  Age  to  act  for  herself  your  kind 
offer  to  supply  her  with  Necessary  Ac 
commodations  for  the  Journey  is  very 
obliging  I  am  unhappy  in  not  having  it 
in  my  Power  to  furnish  her  with  Cash  and 
other  Articles  sufficient  for  the  Journey 
and  Support  for  so  long  a  Time  but  what 
you  advance  for  her  you  must  Charge  to 
my  Account  as  I  dont  desire  you  to  Sus 
tain  the  Cost  without  my  assistance  it 
will  be  a  tedious  Journey  for  you  to  Come 
from  Hartford  to  New  Haven  for  no  Pur 
pose  but  to  see  me  whene  I  cannot  spend 
but  little  Time  with  my  friends  I  am  in 
hopes  of  Coming  to  See  you  at  Fort  Stan- 
wix  in  May  or  June  Next  if  well  enough  to 
Endure  the  Journey  I  am  at  Present  in 
usual  health  excepting  a  Visit  of  the  Rehu- 
matism  in  my  left  leg  which  came  upon 
me  before  I  left  home  and  yet  Continues 
painful  but  hope  it  will  leave  me  soon  I 
have  not  heard  of  Rachel  Since  I  came 
here  but  hope  Major  Davenport  will  bring 


§nmingt0n  fetters.  127 


her  to  meet  me  at  Fairfield  my  Confine 
ment  in  the  Court  for  so  great  a  Part  of 
my  time  is  very  tedious  but  I  must  attend 
that  business  to  obtain  a  Subsistence  in  my 
Declining-  Age  which  will  soon  be  passd  & 
gone  —  Give  my  kind  love  to  Benjamin  & 
tell  him  I  hope  he  will  be  contented  to 
Remain  with  you  untill  of  Age  and  that 
he  may  have  the  good  fortune  to  go  into 
Business  as  his  Brothers  have  all  done 
without  loss  of  Time  I  was  obliged  to 
spend  much  Time  and  money  in  fitting 
myself  for  Business  after  of  Age  having 
been  left  an  Orphan  at  five  years  of  age  * 
&  Destitue  of  friends  who  had  Abilities 
or  Inclination  to  put  me  forward  since 
which  time  I  have  been  a  Slave  to  the 
Publick  and  have  at  last  nothing  to  Expect 
as  a  Reward  but  to  be  Despised  in  old 
Age  I  have  Indeed  been  highly  favoured 

*  Benjamin,  Sr.,  was  born  April  19,  1736,  and  his  father, 
Daniel,  died  September  13,  1741.  His  mother  married 
again,  November  30,  1742. 


128  ®|)e  Bunting  ton  Cetters. 

by  Divine  Providence  in  being  Enabled  to 
afford  a  Decent  Education  to  my  Children 
and  I  hope  I  have  Property  Enough  to 
prevent  my  being  Burthensom  to  them 
in  old  age 

If  Gurdon  has  Collected  the  Note  I  left 
in  his  Hands  against  Gen1  Williams  I  hope 
Nancy  can  Spare  a  Part  of  it  for  Lucy's 
Expences  on  her  Journey  but  must  at  this 
Distance  leave  the  Concern  of  it  to  your 
Descretion 

I  have  already  Wrote  too  much  because 
I  know  not  how  to  Stop 

My  Affectionate  Regards  to  your  wife 
&  to  Gurdon  &  his  wife  &  Nancy 
I  am  &c 

BENJ  HUNTINGTON 

MR  GEORGE  HUNTINGTON 


fjtmtington  Otters.  129 


V. 


This  letter  is  undated.  It  seems  to  have  been 
written  from  Stamford,  and  to  fit  in  to  this  period. 

My  friends  here  treat  me  very  politely, 
&  appear  glad  to  se  me,  &  my  time  passes 
very  agreably,  &  I  hope  not  unprofitably — 
Mrs  Stiles  is  here  on  a  visit,  &  expects  to 
spend  the  winter,  I  treat  her  with  due  cir 
cumspection  &  shall  endeavour  to  keep  in 
her  good  graces — I  believe  the  society 
here  is  nearly  the  same  as  when  you  visited 
Stamford,  we  have  no  beaux  unless  thre  or 
four  students,  at  Mr  Smith's,  may  be  calld 
so ;  two  of  them  Mr  Sands,  &  Mr  Marlot,  a 
frenchman,  have  spent  an  evening  with  us 
&  appear  to  be  smart  young  gentlemen- 
Alice  &  myself  have  become  quite  enlight 
ened  in  the  science  of  Phisiognomy,  &  find 


130  (Etye  ^untington  £ctters. 

no  difficulty  in  cutting-  profiles  of  persons 
two  or  thre  weeks  after  seeing  them — we 
have  got  quite  a  collection,  of  miniature 
profiles,  of  some  persons  which  we  saw  in 
New  York,  it  is  not  an  unpleasing  amuse 
ment,  to  cut  them  where  the  features  of 
the  persons  are  striking — 

Cousin  Eiza  [Eliza]  desired  me  to  apolo 
gise  to  you,  for  her  not  writing  to  you, 
she  said  she  believed  several  letters  had 
been  written  to  her  from  you,  which  she 
never  recieved  she  said  she  felt  rather 
awkward  about  writing  to  you  at  present, 
as  the  last  letter  she  recieved  from  you 
was  almost  torn  to  pieces — I  found  one 
letter  from  you  directed  to  her,  dated  Feb 
ruary  1795  I  read  it,  &  as  the  contents  were 
rather  out  of  date  for  the  present  time, 
commited  it  to  the  flames. 

Eliza  bade  me  tell  you  she  had  the 
promise  of  going  to  Rome  with  you — she 
says  if  you  write  to  her  again  she  shall  cer 
tainly  be  a  good  girl  &  answer  your  letters 


IJtmtington 


—  she  is  quite  a  Belle  in  New  York,  &  if 
she  is  not  made  a  vain  quoquet,  before 
spring-,  may  with  propriety  be  pronounced 
a  person  of  an  an  uncommonly  strong  un 
derstanding-,  she  is  very  beautifull,  &  if  she 
is  proof  against  flattery  will  make  an  exe- 
lent  woman  — 

I  suppose  Father  is  now  on  the  circuit, 
&  intend  to  write  to  him  very  soon  —  I  in 
tended  this  only  as  a  cover  to  the  enclosed, 
but  believe  I  shall  fill  it  up  —  Give  my  love 
to  Brother  &  sister,  &  my  Nephew  & 
nieces  ,  tell  Edward  I  hope  to  see  him  very 
much  improved  in  his  reading,  when  I 
return  home  —  Give  suitable  regards  to  all 
my  acquaintance  who  enquire  after  me  in 
a  friendly  manner  &  tell  them,  think  of 
them,  &  love  them  just  as  well  as  I  used  to 
do  Adieu 

your  gratefull  &  affectionate 

R   HUNTINGTON 

MISSES  L  &  A  H. 


132  ®i)£  Ijtmtington  Betters. 


VI. 


Lucy  Huntington  goes  on  a  visit  to  her  brother 
George,  in  Rome,  N.  Y.,  and  Rachel  addresses  her 
letter  to  Anne,  in  Norwich. 


STAMFORD  Januaty  2gth 
MY   DEAR   SISTER, 

I  have  written  several  letters  to  you 
within  the  last  fortnight,  &  for  want  of 
some  private  opportunity  to  send  them, 
have  destroy'd  them,  but  if  no  other  con 
veyance  offers  soon  I  shall  send  this  by 
the  mail.  I  have  got  a  little  picture, 
pocket  handkerchief  for  Edward,  &  an 
other  for  Susan,  which  I  think  will  please 
&  instruct  them,  &  if  a  good  opportunity 
presents,  shall,  send  them  with  this.  Well 
sister  how  do  you  like  solitude  ?  should 


^tintington  Betters.  133 


you  be  sorry,  or  glad,  to  see  Rachel  ?  or 
are  you  rather  indifferent  about  it  ?  Your 
letter  to  Cousin  Alice,  made  me  feel  quite 
consequencialy  I  assure  you,  when  you 
mention'd,  I  must  expect  to  be  summond 
home  soon,  let  me  request  that  it  may  not 
be  too  soon  —  I  last  week  recieved  a  letter 
from  sister  Lucy,  she  was  then  a  few  miles 
beyond  New  Canaan,  &  had  dined  with 
the  Mrs  Whitings  &  I  suppose  brother  & 
his  party  arrived  at  Fort  Stanwix  in  safety, 
or  I  should  have  heard  of  it  before  this 
time  —  Lucy  mentioned  that  Cousin  Re 
becca  Huntington  promised  to  spend  some 
time  with  you,  &  I  think,  with  her,  Miss 
Miner  &  Cousins  Betsey  &  Polly  Perkins, 
to  each  of  them  make  you  a  visit,  you  may 
consent  to  my  staying  till  May,  when  I 
calculate  to  return  home  by  the  way  of 
New  York  —  Last  week  I  went  to  Fairfield 
with  Major  Davenport  &  Lady  &  Cousins 
Alice  &  Alfred,  in  a  sliegh  —  Our  Cousin 
Burr  appear'd  glad  to  see  me,  &  I  was 


134  ®l)e  fttntington 


quite  pleased  with  her,  she  appears  to  be 
a  good  friendly  woman,  of  very  plain  man 
ners  &  I  think  bears  some  resemblance  to 
our  deceaced  Mother  I  was  extremely 
grieved  to  find  Father  so  very  lame  as  he 
was,  'tho  he  told  me  he  was  getting  better, 
&  thought  his  unusual  lameness  came  in 
consequence  of  a  bad  cold,  which  he  caught 
in  the  extreme  cold  weather  in  the  begin- 
ing  of  this  month  —  Father  said  that  before 
he  left  home,  you  almost  repented  letting 
me  make  a  visit  at  Stamford  before  you. 
If  it  were  possible  I  would  willingly  fore 
go  the  pleasure  I  shall  recieve  in  my  visit, 
&  take  your  place  at  the  old  mansion  in 
Norwich  &  let  you  finish  my  visit  at  Stam 
ford  —  but  as  it  is  impossible,  cutting  short 
my  visit  can  do  no  good  —  but  if  you  will 
consent  to  my  making  a  good  long  visit,  I 
promise  you  that  I  will  be  a  good  girl  & 
stay  at  home,  steady  as  any  quaker  lass. 
Mre  Watson  &  Cousins  Eliza  &  Betsey 
Davenport  came  up  from  New  York  last 


135 


Monday,  &  Tuesday  evening,  after  Alice 
&  I,  return'd  from  Fairfield  we  had  a 
very  agreable  little  Ball.  Mre  W-  -  & 
Cousin  Eliza  went  away  on  Thursday, 
the  former  to  Hartford  &  the  latter  to 
N  York  Cousin  Betsey  is  still  with  her 
Stamford  friends  &  will  stay  'till  the  next 
sleighing,  when  Mrs  Watson  is  to  return 
from  Hartford  &  take  her  with  her  to 
New  York 

Cousin  Betsey  is  in  the  Chamber  writ 
ing  with  me,  &  every  minute  there  comes 
a  mandate  for  us  to  appear  below  stairs,  it 
seems  there  is  a  little,  coxcomical  French 
man  there,  who  keeps  enquiring  for  "  de 
Ladies."  he  came  here  one  evening  & 
staid  'till  allmost  midnight,  notwithstand 
ing,  repeated  hints  were  given  that  it  was 
time  for  him  to  depart,  &  then  he  asked 
"a  thousand  pardons"  for  going  so  early, 
when  he  went  away  —  but  I  must  stop  writ 
ing  Cousin  Betsey  sends  you  — 

here's    another   message  —  good    night    to 


Ijrmtittgtott  Betters. 


you  —  I  fear  it  will  be  long  before  I  have 

the  pleasure  of  saying  so  to  Monsieur  — 

your  truly  affectionate  sister, 

RACHEL  HUNTINGTON 

Miss  ANNE  HUNTINGTON 


ffit)e  Cjnntington  fieitera.  137 


VII. 

STAMFORD  day  after  fast 

MY  DEAR  SISTER,  the  enclosed  was  written 
several  days  ago,  &  the  careless  postmaster 
neglected  to  send  it  to  Norwich,  but  I  am 
determined  to  send  it  by  the  next  stage 
with  the  addition  of  another  sheet,  &  I 
hope  you  will  be  glad  to  see  it — This  after 
noon  the  stage  stop'd  at  the  Stage  house 
opposite  here  &  Gen1  E  Huntington  & 
Mr  Zach  Huntington  were  the  first  per 
sons  who  met  my  eyes,  &  I  felt  as  much 
delighted  as  I  should  at  home  at  the  sight 
of  old  acquaintance  General  H  calld  to 
see  Major  Davenport,  &  was  very  polite 
to  me,  he  told  me  all  the  Norwich  news 
he  could  think  of,  &  wish'd  he  could  tell 
me  better  news  about  my  father,  but  he  was 
very  lame,  though  much  better  than  he  had 


1 


been.  Mr  H  -  says  that  he  believes  his 
niece  is  very  soon  to  be  married  to  Mr 
Mumford,  &  more  dependance  may  be 
placed  on  that,  than  on  the  New  York 
tattles,  therefore  I  wish  you  not  to  mention 
what  1  have  written  concerning  him  in  my 
other  letter,  to  any  one  —  Oh  dear,  I  can 
not  help  continually  thinking  of  papa's  leg, 
do  Nancy  let  me  know  how  it  is  whether 
you  think  it  will  get  well  as  the  weather 
grows  warm,  &  if  he  still  keeps  up  his 
spirits,  if  he  does  not,  remember  my  sister, 
that  it  is  doubly  necessary  for  you  to  be 
cheerfull,  I  wish  I  could  be  contributing 
to  his  comfort,  with  you,  but  circum 
stanced  as  I  am,  it  seems  best  for  me  to 
finish  my  visit  as  I  have  proposed,  am  I 
acting  right,  or  not  ?  I  must  stop  writing 
'till  tomorrow  —  Sunday  I  have  been  to 
Church  this  day  &  heard  Mr  Burnet,  (who 
was  at  our  house  last  Summer)  preach,  he 
dined  here,  &  enquired  after  father,  was 
very  sociable  &  agreable  in  conversation, 


(Elje  i)untington  £cttcrs.  139 

but  no  great  orator.  Mr  &  Mrs  Smith  & 
thier  family  are  going  to  Sharon  next 
week  &  soon  after  thier  return  Mr  Smith 
is  going  to  Windham,  &  has  promised  to 
call  on  me  at  Norwich  about  the  second 
tuesday  in  June.  I  wish  you  could  be  ac 
quainted  him  &  his  Lady,  they  are  really  a 
very  worthy  pair,  I  was  thinking  Lucy 
was  to  see  my  letter,  when  I  began  to 
write  about  them,  but  no  matter — I  am  very 
glad  to  hear  Mre  Uriah  Tracy  has  so  fine 
a  son,  the  family  are  undoubtedly  much 
pleased  with  it,  Mr  Huntington  informd 
me  that  all  the  mischief  of  Mr  T's  Barn 
&  out  houses'  being  burnt  was  plotted  by 
a  little  boy,  who  had  confess'd  the  fact,  it 
is  to  be  hoped  his  confession,  may  stay  the 
hands  of  worse  incendiaries,  For  some 
time  I  was  almost  afraid  to  hear  from 
Norwich,  for  fear  the  news  would  be  that 
Brother  Gurdons  shops  were  burnt,  but  I 
hope  the  danger  is  now  over — How  does 
Mr  Hyde  like  Capt  Burnham's  attention 

10 


140  &l)e  ftmtington  Cetters. 

to  Sally?  don't  you  think  the  Whites- 
town  man  would  be  quite  as  agreable  ? 
How  does  Mrs  E  Tracy,  &  her  sisters  do  ? 
I  suppose  it  is  allmost  time  for  Miss 
Debby,  to  return  from  Boston — when  you 
see  them  I  will  thank  you  to  give  my  love 
to  them — Indeed  Nancy,  I  wish  very  often 
that  my  visits  were  over  &  myself  fairly 
fixed  down  in  the  old  mansion,  again,  prac 
ticing  the  industry  &  Philosophy  which  I 
have  been  planning  since  I  left  home — I 
hope  they  will  not  both  forsake  me  when 
they  are  put  to  the  test,  &  make  me  sing 
the  old  tune  "how  much  easier  it  is  to 
theorize,  than  practice  " — I  hope  Papa  will 
send  me  some  money,  by  the  mail, — Re 
member  me  affectionately  to  all  friends, 
particularly  to  brothers  children  &  let  me 
know  if  Edward  is  a  good  Boy,  I  suppose 
Susan  has  forgotten  me — 

your  affectionate  sister 

R   HUNTINGTON 

Miss  ANNE  H 


£ettcr0. 


VIII. 

STAMFORD  April  i&k  7797 

MY  DEAR  ANNE, 

A  day  or  two,  previous  to  the  reciept 
of  your  letter  of  March  19th  in  which  you 
desire  me  to  prepare  for  my  journey  home 
ward  as  soon  as  I  conveniently  can,  I  dis 
patched  a  letter  to  you,  in  which  (if  re 
member  right)  I  told  you  Brother  Henry 
was  married,  &  was  to  carry  Mrs  Hunting- 
ton  to  New  York  in  May — Major  Daven 
port  was  at  New  York  last  week  &  brother 
told  him  that  he  should  go  to  Shelter  Is 
land  the  first  week  in  may,  &  return  as 
soon  as  possible  to  New  York  with  Mre  H. 
he  did  not  write  to  me,  but  sent  word  that 
he  would  in  a  few  days.  My  friends  here 
advise  me  to  stay  &  visit  my  new  sister,  & 


142 


I  need  not  tell  you  how  much  I  wish  to, 
for  you  can  easily  imrnagine  it)  it  will 
probably  be  a  long-  time  before  another  op 
portunity  as  good  as  the  present,  will  offer. 
Mr  &  Mrs  Davenport  will  be  going  to  New 
York  the  second  week  in  may,  (&,  it  was 
told  me,  with  an  injunction  not  to  let  any 
one  know  it  hereabouts,  Cousin  Alice  is  to  go 
with  them,)  I  have  concluded  to  wait  &  go 
with  them,  if  I  do  not  hear  from  you,  that 
it  is  necessary  for  rne  to  come  home  imme 
diately.  O  Nancy,  I  wish  it  were  possible 
for  me  to  get  at  a  little  of  yours,  or  Lucy's 
wholesome  advise,  (the  last  word  is  spelt 
wrong,  but  no  matter)  I  assure  you  it 
would  very  often  be  gratefull  to  me  —  I 
believe  you  have  really  had  a  great  many 
trials  for  your  patience  within  a  few 
months,  (the  consolatory  visit  of  our  dear 
Crank  cousin  s  cannot  be  a  very  small  one) 
That  of  not  recieving  your  new  hat  must, 
I  believe,  be  laid  to  my  charge,  for  I  ought 
not  to  have  depended  on  its  being  sent  on 


Cl)e  £j txntington  tellers.  143 

board  the  vessel  without  my  particular 
care — Cheer  up  your  spirits  my  sister,  & 
remember  it  will  be  your  turn  to  go 
abroad  next,  &  leave  me  at  home  to  pay 
for  gadding  all  last  winter.  When  I  saw 
Papa  at  Fairfield,  he  offer'd  to  give  me  ten 
dollars,  which,  as  I  did  not  then  need  it,  I 
declined  accepting,  he  however  bade  me 
write  for  it  in  the  spring  if  I  should  want 
it,  I  will  thank  you  to  tell  him  that  I 
should  be  very  glad  of  it  now,  if  he  can 
spare  it;  if  not,  I  can  do  without  it— I  re- 
cieved  a  letter  from  Benjamin  a  few  days 
since  in  which  he  writes,  that  Lucy  is  very 
much  pleased  with  her  visit  at  Rome,  & 
talks  of  returning  home  in  April  or  May, 
but  I  suspect  we  shall  not  see  much  of  her 
before  September,  I  am  pleased  that  you 
have  finished  reading  Humes  England,  & 
am  determined  to  bring  you  some  pleasing 
novel  for  a  desert,  but  cannot  promise  that 
it  will  be  Cammilla,  as  I  have  heard  it  con- 
demn'd  by  some  persons,  on  whose  judge- 


144  £fye  ^tintington  Betters. 

ment,  I  should  put  a  good  deal  of  depend- 
ance,  as  being  far  inferior  to  Miss  Burneys 
other  writings.  MIS  Radcliffe's  "  Castles  of 
Athlin  &  Dunbaine  "  is  advertised  in  the 
Xe\v  York  papers,  &  as  there  is  only  one 
volume  the  expence  of  it  will  not  be  much 
— I  intend  buying  it,  &  I  think  you  will  be 
pleased  with  it  if  you  like  such  things  as 
well  as  you  used  to — The  Mysteries  of 
Udolpho,  have  been  so  much  caressed, 
(poor  things),  that  they  have  not  had  suf 
ficient  liesure  to  keep  thier  deaths  in  re 
pair,  a  continual  round  of  dissipation  & 
visiting  has  preyed  upon  thier  feeble  frames, 
&  they  have  grown  old  in  the  days  of  their 
youth — Brother  bought  some  books  at 
auction  when  I  was  in  New  York  &  would 
have  given  a  very  good  novel,  entitled 
"  Caleb  Williams  ",  to  me,  but  on  examin 
ing  them,  he  found  all  the  volumes  were 
alike,  he  gave  me  the  "  Ghost  seir  or  Ap- 
paritionist,  which  some  person  who  has 
read  it,  has  justly  defined  with  a  pencil  at 


®l]c  ijnntington  £cttcrs.  145 

the  end  of  it,  "  A  very  miraculous  nothing 
at  all." 

You  write  that  perhaps  Mr  B  M  Mumford 
will  be  company  for  me  on  my  (way  to) 
Norwich — but  I  begin  to  have  serious 
doubts  (whether)  the  match  between  him 
&  Miss  Huntington  ever  takes  place,  his 
behaviour  is  certainly  very  odd  if  that 
match  is  still  in  contemplation,  there  is  a 
Miss  Sedgwick  in  New  York  to  whom  he 
pays  very  particular  attention ;  &  (to  use 
the  expression  of  Miss  Rogers,  Cousin 
Elizas  correspondent)  "  he  is  out  shopping 
with  her  evry  morning  &  at  the  play,  or 
visiting  with  her,  every  evening,"  very 
fine  things,  he  has  said  also  of  Cousin 
Eliza,  which  it  would  not  be  worth  my 
while  to  repeat,  even  if  I  had  more  paper 
such  conduct  is  rather  uncommon  for  a 
mortgaged  man  but  perhaps  Vanity  may  be 
the  cause  of  it  all,  Have  you  heard  any 
whisperings  concerning  it  in  Norwich?  if 
you  have'nt  pray  keep  what  I  have  written 


146  &l)e  ^nniinton  £etters. 


to  yourself,  for  I  should  be  mortified  to  be 
the  propagator  of  such  a  story  Mr  M  - 
is  a  great  favorite  with  the  Ladies,  &  per 
haps  he  may  be  for  quoquetting,  &  Miss 

5  --  rings  louder  than  any  belle  in  New 
York.     With  duty  to  Father  &  love  to  all 
friends,  I  am 

my  dear  sister,  yours, 

R    HUNTINGTON 

Seeing  I  have  begun  to  write  the  tattles, 

6  my  letter  can't  go  till  next  mail,  I  may 
as  well   finish  —  I    believe  that   Miss  Eliza 
D  -  Miss  Sedgwick  &  a  Miss  Gordon, 
have  been  rathther  greatest  belles  in  New 
York  last  winter,  (Eliza  &  Miss  Gordon 
were  both  guests  to  Miss  Rogers)  for  some 
time  Mr  Mumfords  attention  seemed  to  be 
paid  equally  to  those  three  Ladies,  Eliza 
came  away  in  her  glory,  Miss  G  went  soon 
after,  (to  Balls  town)  but  not  before  Miss 
Sedgwick  had  begun  to  out  ring  her  —  since 
that  time  Eliza  has  recieved  several  letters 


®l)c  ^tintington  fitters.  147 

from  Betsey  Rogers,  in  each  of  which,  she 
says  something  about  Mumford's  particu 
lar  attention  to  Miss  S Cousin  Bet 
sey  Davenport  is  very  intimate  with  Miss 
Sedgwick  &  writes  to  me,  that  she  has  not 
calld  on  her  friend  this  some  time  with 
out  meeting  Mr  M Miss  R "can 
not  think  he  has  any  thoughts  of  courting 
that  Norwich  Lady" — Mr  Bell,  (a  second 
Elisha  Tracy)  says  "  Miss  Sedgwick  has 
made  twenty  victim's,"  &  himself  &  Mr 
Mumford  must  be  ranked  among  the  first 
of  them — thus  my  sister  I  have  given  you 
some  of  the  tattles  of  New  York — I  hope 
in  compassion  to  me  you  will  burn  this 
page  as  soon  as  you  have  read  it,  least,  a 
bird  of  the  air  should  carry  the  sound — 

Probably  this  will  very  soon  be  handed 
to  you  by  one  of  the  "  Sacerdotal  order," 
if  it  is,  do  give  him  one  for  me  in  return. 

R  H 


148 


IX. 

NEW  YORK  May  i^th  7797  Monday  P  M 

MY  DEAR  ANNE. 

Christopher  Leffingwell  call'd  here  a 
few  minutes  ago  for  letters  to  *  carry  to 
you,  &  as  Mrs  Duncan  had  heard  me  once 
express  a  wish  that  he  might  not  call  very 
soon,  she  pretended  I  was  not  at  home,  & 
he  has  promised  to  call  in  half  an  hour,  25 
minutes  of  that  time  will  be  devoted  to 
writing  to  you  $L  perhaps  I  may  indeed  be 
out  before  he  comes — Brother  Henry  has 
gone  to  Shelter  Island  &  is  expected  back 
on  Saturday  next,  Brother  George  will 
stay  'till  he  return  &  would  if  possible  go 
to  Norwich.  He  is  very  anxious  to  visit 
Papa,  &  if  he  was  not  detained  in  New  York 
by  Henrys  business  I  make  no  doubt  but 


f£l)c  {jnutington  tetters.  149 

he  would — Our  House  is  all  in  confusion, 
srubbcrs  painters  &  white  washers,  are  all 
uniting  thier  skill  to  make  the  house  look 
as  well  as  possible  when  Mrs  H ar 
rives,  who  I  am  told  by  all  her  acquaint 
ance,  is  a  pattern  of  nicety — I  have  spent 
but  one  afternoon  from  home  since  I  came 
to  New  York  &  yet  have  been  very  busy. 
I  am  now  engaged  in  making  a  gown  for 
myself  which  (I  regoice  to  tell  you)  Fash 
ion,  (that  tyraness)  will  permit  to  swing 
above  the  dirty  puddles  &  filthy  cinque  & 
drains — I  have  a  multiplicity  of  commis 
sions  to  execute  for  Lucy  &  Hannah,  I 
have  been  out  shopping  a  great  deal  with 
brother  George,  &  whenever  I  go  with 
him  I  bid  him  remember  his  wife  &  sister, 
&  they  may  thank  me  for  many  handsome 
things  which  he  has  got  for  them — Benja 
min  Mumford  moved  from  here  several 
days  ago,  but  as  he  has  no  housekeeper, 
he  comes  here  when  he  is  hungry,  I  have 
had  his  deserted  chamber  clean'd  out  for 


150  ®b£  Quntington  Betters. 

my  drawing-  room  &  have  enacted  that  no 
Gentleman  shall  presume  to  spit  in  it." 
Brother  Henry  desired  me  to  make  all 
necessary  revolutions  in  the  house,  & 
many  will  undoubtedly  be  made,  but  it 
will  not  cease  to  be  a  kind  of  Bachelors 
Hall  'till  the  mistress  of  the  house  arrives 

Miss  Sedgwick  (the  high  sounding  belle) 
has  been  gone  out  of  town  a  fortnight,  &  I 
think  Ben  begins  to  look  a  little  sober,  he 
has  been  quite  unwell  for  a  day  or  two 
but  has  now  in  his  usual  health  he  has  in 
deed  play'd  the  coquette  at  a  high  rate  for 

five  or  six  months — I  wish  Betsey  H 

would  come  to  New  York  &  set  up  for  a 
belle,  (it  would  be  amply  in  her  power)  & 
just  pay  him  in  his  own  coin  for  his  jilting 
her — but  I  have  reason  to  believe  he  has 
the  bag  here  is  Mr  Leffingwell  Give  my 
love  to  all  friends  &  believe  me  your  affec 
tionate  sister 

RACHEL  HUNTINGTON 

Miss  ANNE 


guntimjton  Betters.  151 


X. 


In  this  letter  Rachel  describes  to  her  sister  Lucy 
the  fashions  prevailing  in  New  York  in  1797.  A  part 
of  this  letter  has  already  been  published  on  pages  16 
and  17  of  "  Old  Houses  of  the  Antient  Town  of  Nor 
wich,"  by  Mary  E.  Perkins. 


NEW  YORK  May  28*^- 
MY   DEAR    SISTER 

The  enclosed  pacquet  was  intended  to 
be  sent  by  General  Floyd,  but  he  went 
away  before  it  was  given  to  him  —  I  have 
forgot  what  I  wrote  in  it,  but  shall  send  it 
along  &  perhaps  there  may  be  something 
entertaining  in  it  —  Lucy  I  believe  most  of 
the  comissions  from  you  &  sister  Hannah 
have  been  attended  to  by  Brother  George 
or  myself  —  I  have  bought  two  bands 
which  are  the  most  fashionable  trimings 
for  beaver  hats,  a  white  one  for  the  blue 


152  &l)e  gmttingt0n  Alters. 

hat,  &  a  yellow  one  for  the  black  one,  they 
should  be  put  twice  around  the  crown  & 
fastned  forward  in  the  form  of  a  beau  knot. 
Brother  has  got  each  of  you  a  pink  silk 
shawl  which  are  very  fashionable  also — 
Many  Ladies  wear  them  for  turbans,  made 
in  the  manner  that  you  used  to  make  mus 
lin  ones  last  summer,  George  has  given 
me  one  like  them,  The  fine  lace  cost  10 
shillings  a  yard,  &  I  think  it  is  very  hand 
some,  there  is  enough  for  two  handker 
chiefs  &  two  double  tuckers,  the  way  to 
make  handkerchief's  is  to  set  lace,  or  a 
ruffle  on  a  strait  piece  of  muslin,  (only 
pieced  on  the  back  to  make  it  set  to  your 
neck,)  &  put  it  on  so  as  to  show  only  the 
ruffle,  &  make  it  look  as  if  it  was  set  on 
the  neck  of  your  gown,  many  Ladies  trim 
the  neck  of  thier  gowns  with  lace  &  go 
without  handkerchiefs  but  I  think  it  is  a 
neater  way  to  wear  them — with  fashion 
able  gowns  it  will  not  be  necessary  to  have 
much  more  than  half  a  yard  in  the  width 


£etter0.  153 


of  your  tuckers  —  I  send  a  doll,*  by  Brother 
George  which  I  intended  to  have  dressd 
in  a  neater  manner  but  really  could  not 
find  time  —  it  however  has  rather  a  fashion 
able  appearance,  the  cap  is  made  in  a  good 
form  but  you  would  make  one  much  hand 
somer  than  I  could,  the  beau  to  Miss  Dollys 
poultice  neck  cloth  is  rather  large  but  the 
thickness  is  very  moderate  —  I  think  a  cap 
crown  &  turban  would  become  you  —  I 
have  got  a  braid  of  hair  which  cost  four 
dollars  it  should  be  fastned  up  with  a 
comb,  (without  platting)  under  your  tur 
ban  if  it  has  a  crown  &  over  it,  if  without 
a  crown  —  Brother  has  got  some  very  beau- 
tifull  sattin  muslin,  &  also  some  handsome 
"  tartan  plad  "  gingham  for  your  gowns, 
there  is  a  large  pattern  for  two  train 
gowns  of  the  muslin,  which  should  be 


*  "  It  was  customary  at  this  time,  in  the  larger  cities,  to 
exhibit  the  fashions  on  dolls  imported  for  this  purpose 
from  Europe." — Old  Houses  of  the  Antient  Town  of  Nor 
wich,  p.  1 6. 


154  ®l)e  iljttntimjtDtt  Cettera. 

made  thre  breadths  wide  two  breadths  to 
reach  to  the  shoulder  straps  forward,  & 
one  breadth  to  be  cut  part  of  the  way 
down  before,  to  go  over  the  shoulder  & 
part  of  it  to  be  pleated  on  to  the  shoulder 
straps,  meeting  the  back  breadths,  &  some 
of  it  to  go  around  the  neck,  like  the  doll's — 
the  pleats  should  be  made  pretty  small,  & 
not  stitched  to  the  lining,  but  you  should 
wear  binders  over  your  shoulders — an  inch 
&  a  half  should  be  the  width  of  your  bind 
ers.  (I  must  have  done  writing  this  pretty 
soon,  the  last  sentence  if  you  observe  is 
quite  poetical — but  let  me  stick  to  my  text 
Fashion)  It  is  the  fashion  to  have  draw 
strings  fastned  on  the  corners  of  the 
shoulder  straps  by  the  sieves  on  the  back, 
and  have  a  tack  large  enough  for  them  to 
run  in,  made  to  cross  on  the  back,  run 
under  the  arms  an  inch  below  the  sieves  & 
tie  before — I  should  advise  you  to  have 
your  gingham  one  made  in  that  way,  with 
draw'd  sieves  for  sister  Hannah  &  I  have 


(Elje  ^tttttington  £cttm.  155 

seen  as  large  Ladies  as  you  with  them,  &  I 
think  they  would  look  very  well  for  you 
Sieves  should  be  made  half  a  yard  wide  & 
not  drawd  less  than  seven  or  eight  times, 
I  think  they  look  best  to  have  two  or 
three  drawings  close  together  &  a  plain 
spot  alternately — Some  of  the  ladies  have 
thier  sieves  coverd  with  drawing  tacks,  & 
have  thier  elbows  uncover'd  if  you  dont 
like  short  sieves,  you  should  have  long 
ones  with  short  ones  to  come  down  allmost 
to  your  elbows,  drawed  four  or  five  by  the 
bottom — if  yo  want  to  walk  with  long 
gowns  you  must  draw  the  train  up  thr'o 
one  of  the  pocket  holes,  I  have  bought 
some  callico  for  chints  trimings  for  old 
gowns,  if  you  have  any  that  you  wish  to 
wear  short  they  are  very  fashionable  at 
present,  &  gowns  that  are  trimed  with 
them  should  be  made  only  to  touch  the 
ground,  there  is  enough  of  the  dark  stripe 
for  one  gown,  &  enough  of  the  light  for 
one  there  should  be  enough  white  left  on 


156  &1)£  ^nmington  Cotters. 

the  dark  stripe  to  turn  down  to  prevent  its 
ravelling.  I  gave  10  shillings  for  the  cal- 
lico  &  have  been  laughed  at  for  my  *  fool 
ish  bargain '  but  I  am  not  convinced  that 
it  is  foolish  The  William  street  mer 
chants  ask  three  shillings  a  yard  for  trim- 
ings  like  the  wide  stripe  &  two  for  the 
narrow — I  guess  you  will  like  the  narrow 
— the  kid  shoes  are  of  the  most  fashion 
able  kind,  &  the  others,  of  the  best  qual 
ity  Brother  George  keeps  enquiring  for 
my  letter — &  as  I  have  fill'd  up  my  paper 
I'll  leave  the  improvement  for  you  to  make 
With  love  to  sister  Hannah  &  Benjamin 
I  am  my  dear  sister  yours,  most  affec 
tionately 

R   HUNTINGTON 

Miss  LUCY  HUNTINGTON 


i^nntington  Betters.  157 


XI. 

NEW  YORK  June  5*h 

MY  DEAR  ANNE 

I  intended  instead  of  writing  to  you  to 
have  seen  you  myself  at  the  time  in  which 
you  will  recieve  this  letter — but  our  sister 
has  been  but  a  little  while  in  New  York,  & 
MK  Duncan  is  about  moving  so  that  she 
will  be  very  much  alone,  (or  what  is  as 
bad  surrounded  by  men)  if  I  go  away — 
she  is  very  urgent  to  have  me  stay  longer, 
&  so  is  brother — they  bid  me  stay  till  next 
week,  &  ask  you  to  set  a  time  when  I  must 
come  home — (Indeed  I  have  particular 
reasons  for  wishing  to  be  away  from  Nor 
wich  a  fortnight  from  this  time — but  I  will 
tell  you  when  I  see  you — I  am  very  much 
pleased  with  our  new  sister  she  is  a  plain 


158  &lje  flnnlinfitan  fitters. 

woman,  who  will  not  enter  into  all  the 
fashionable  follies  of  the  Town,  but  I  be 
lieve  will  make  an  excellent  wife  for 
Brother  Henry,  she  is  fond  of  retirement 
&  is  a  pattern  of  neatness — you  Nancy 
must  make  her  a  good  visit  when  I  am 
once  more  fixed  at  Norwich — Brother 
George,  &  Betsey  Davenport  went  from 
here  last  Sunday,  &  I  suppose  George  is 
at  home  before  this  time,  last  wensday 
evening  I  went  to  the  theatre  for  the  first 
time  since  I  have  been  in  New  York — 
my  beau  was  Mr  Richards  &  the  party  in 
our  box  Mr  &  Mrs  Gurdon  Mumford  Ben. 
&  William.  Mumford,  a  Mr  Pomeroy,  & 
Mr  Bell  the  latter  of  whom,  in  manners, 
resembles  Elisha  Tracy  you  will  see  him 
if  ever  you  come  to  New  York — The  play 
was  the  school  for  Scandal,  which  was  ad 
mirably  performed,  it  is  indeed  a  very 
excellent  burlesque  upon  scandal — I  have 
been  out  a  visiting  but  very  little  in  the 
mornings,  &  have  drank  tea  out,  only  one 


Ijtmtington  betters.  159 


evening  since  I  have  been  here  —  but 
am  now  deeply  indebted  to  many  Ladies 
who  have  done  me  the  Honor  to  call  on 
me  —  Sister  Huntington  is  soon  to  have  a 
great  deal  of  company,  &  it  will  be  in  my 
power  to  assist  her  a  good  deal  if  I  stay  in 
New  York  a  little  longer 

I  send  by  Mr  Thomas  a  silk  shawl  for 
Sister  Gurdon  it  cost  eleven  shillings  &  six 
pence  —  it  is  small,  but  I  could  not  get  a 
larger  one,  as  they  are  not  fashionable  & 
nobody  has  them  to  sell  —  I  tried  also  to 
get  one  with  a  greater  proportion  of  black 
in  it  —  but  could  not  get  such  an  one  as  I 
wished  to  —  Brother  Henry  has  given  me 
a  dozen  handsome  silver  tea  spoons,  but  I 
believe  I  shall  keep  them  till  I  go  home 
myself,  unless  you  wish  me  to  send  them 

I  send  a  little  printed  handkerchief  for 
Edward,  &  a  large  one  which  if  you  please 
you  may  give  to  James  Latham 

You  say  perhaps  I  shall  be  "  shocked  at 
your  old  fashion'd  appearance  —  no  no  sis- 


160  iftlje  §tmtittjgt0n  Betters. 

ter  Anne,  I  am  not  so  easily  shocked — you 
will  see  your  sister  Rachel  return  home 
without  much  alteration  in  her  appearance 
— A  little  time  may  be  advantageously  ap 
propriated  to  fashion — but  to  pay  too  much 
attention  to  it,  is  in  my  opinion  worse  than 
to  assume  the  dress  of  a  quaker — I  am  glad 
Betsey  Huntington  bears  Mumford's  fickle 
ness  with  so  much  spirit — it  is  surprising 
to  me  that  the  reports  of  his  gallantries 
did  not  reach  Norwich  sooner — Here,  it  is 
not  generally  believ'd  that  he  was  ever 
engaged  to  Miss  Huntington — Mr  Bell 
was  here  the  other  day,  &  speaking  of 
the  "  charming  "  Miss  Sedgwick,  said  that 
she  had  "  laid  prostrate  half  the  gentlemen 
in  town  " — as  for  himself  he  was  "  leveled 
with  the  dusty  &  had  it  in  serious  contem 
plation  to  take  a  voyge  to  Italy  to  recover 
him  of  his  malady — but  "  Mumford  was 
undoubtedly  the  highly  favored  man  " — 
Bell  is  a  great  news  monger,  &  among 
other  things  he  told  me  that  Abby  How- 


45nntingt0n  Cetters.  161 


land  is  courted  by  a  Mr  George  Muerson 
Woolsey,  a  respectable  merchat  in  this 
Town.  I  cannot  vouch  for  the  truth  of  the 
report  —  Mr  Mumford  does  not  certainly 
appear  in  quite  so  high  spirits  as  he  used 
to  —  whether  in  consequene  of  late  events  or 
not,  I  cannot  determine,  he  has  given  up 
all  thoughts  of  housekeeping  &  is  going  to 
a  Boarding  house  to  live  —  I  hope  you  will 
destroy  this  letter  as  soon  as  you  have 
read  it,  as  so  much  scandal  had  better  not 
be  preserved  —  but  I  hear  so  much  that  it 
is  difficult  to  refrain  from  writing  some  of 
it  —  It  is  time  for  me  to  dress  for  dinner,  as 
we  are  going  to  have  company  —  I  must 
stop  writing  in  three  minutes.  With  duty 
to  Father  &  love  to  Brother  Gurdon's 
family  &  yourself  I  am  my  dear  Anne  your 
affectionate  sister 

RACHEL  HUNTINGTON 

Miss  ANNE  HUNTINGTON 


162  ®l)e  ^untington  letters. 


XII. 

This  letter  is  undated,  but  seems  to  have  been 
written  by  Rachel  Huntington  on  the  eve  of  her  de 
parture  for  Rome,  N.  Y.,  where  she  was  to  live  at  the 
home  of  her  brother  George. 

MY  DEAR  SISTERS 

I  arrived  here  in  safety  yesterday  at 
sun  set — I  had  the  pleasure  of  spending 
the  evening  with  Miss  J  Watson,  &  Miss 
Hudson,  sisters  of  Henry  Hudson — who 
were  on  a  visit  to  Miss  Leffingwell — Doc 
tor  Cogswell  calld  with  Mrs  Colt,  in  five 
minutes  after  I  got  here — I  am  much 
pleased  with  her,  she  will  be  an  excellent 
companion  for  me  on  the  journey  which 
we  have  undertaken  the  Doctor  says  he 
has  thoughts  of  going  to  Norwich  soon — 

Perhaps    Fanny   L will    return   with 

Mr  Thomas  to  Norwich — if  she  does  she 


£etter0.  163 


will  stay  part  of  her  time  with  you  —  she  is 
a  charming  girl,  &  I  think  Mrs  Leffingwell 
is  a  very  worthy  woman  —  Col  Wadsworth 
has  promised  to  send  his  sleigh  &  horses 
to  help  us  on  twenty  or  thirty  miles,  where 
we  shall  meet  Mre  Colt's  sleigh.  I  am 
afraid  we  shall  have  but  little  snow  —  I 
have  had  only  a  few  minutes  to  write,  but 
I  know  you  had  rather  have  this  letter 
than  none  —  I  will  finish  with  a  little  advise 

—  Brighten  up  your  countenances  my  sis 
ters,  &  weep  no  more  —  I  must  stop  writing 

—  my  love  to  Father  &  all  friends 

Your  sister      R  H 

MRs  G  H  &  MISSES  L  &  A  H— 


1 64  QLtye  iljtttttittgton  Betters. 


XIII. 

ROME  March  zjM  iyq8 

MY  DEAR  SISTERS, 

I  arrived  here  yesterday,  after  a  very 
fortunate  passage  from  Albany  &  found 
our  friends  in  good  health — Mr  Tracy  was 
so  polite  as  to  bring  M*5  Colt  &  me  in  his 
sleigh  from  Whites  town  here  as  the  snow 
was  almost  gone  we  have  however  had 
excellent  sleighing  three  fourths  of  the 
way  from  Albany — Sister  Hannah  says 
She  is  glad  I  have  come  &  has  given  me 
the  room  which  leads  from  the  parlour — I 
believe  I  shall  feel  very  happy  here — but  I 
can  hardly  realize  that  I  am  to  return  no 
more  to  Norwich — Indeed  it  is  difficult 
for  me  to  speak  of  parting  from  you — Ben 
jamin  was  at  a  ball  last  evening  &  has  been 


fjuntington  Cotters.  165 


very  much  engaged  to  day  so  that  I  have 
seen  him  but  a  few  minutes  —  He  seemed 
sorry  that  I  was  not  here  in  season  to 
attend  the  Ball  but  'so  was  not  /'  Brother 
G  has  enquired  at  almost  every  place  be 
tween  this  &  Hartford  for  Surinam  beans  & 
seed  peas,  but  could  no  where  get  a  suf 
ficient  quantity  to  plant.  &  he  wishes  you 
to  send  him  as  many  of  those  articles  as 
you  can  spare,  if  you  have  more  than  he 
wants  Mre  Colt  will  be  very  glad  of  some, 
good  lettice  seed  will  be  very  acceptable, 
perhaps  you  may  have  an  opportunity  to 
send  them  by  land,  or  if  not  we  would 
thank  you  to  send  them  to  New  York  as 
soon  as  the  river  opens  &  we  can  send  for 
them  —  Mre  Colt  will  be  glad  of  some  other 
kinds  of  garden  seeds  if  you  have  them  to 
spare  —  I  hope  you  have  ere  now  written 
to  Cousin  Eliza  Davenport,  if  you  have 
not  I  beg  you  will  soon  &  make  some 
apologies  for  my  leaving  Norwich  at  a 
time  when  I  was  expecting  her  &  Betsey 


1 66  (ftlje  Quntington  Betters. 

— I  hope  sister  Nancy  will  go  to  New 
York  as  soon  as  possible  perhaps  Sister 
Caty  will  return  with  her  to  Norwich,  but 
if  Nancy  stays  but  one  fortnight  it  will  be 
much  better  for  her  than  not  to  go  I  hear 
there  is  a  man  going  to  Norwich  in  a  few 
days — I  shall  then  write  to  Edward — Ben 
jamin  wishes  to  write  a  few  lines  in  my 
letter,  but  before  he  takes  it  I  must  request 
you  to  write  to  me  very  often  as  we  shall 
feel  anxious  to  hear  from  father — My  love 
to  all  friends 

Your  affectionate 

RACHEL  HUNTINGTON 

MlSS    HUNTINGTONS 

Sister  H  desires  love  to  you 

DEAR  GIRLS 

Brother  returned  last  evening  soon  after 
I  was  gone  to  a  ball  (mentioned  by  Rachel) 
so  that  I  had  not  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
them  till  this  morning  I  was  fearfull  least 


ijjuntington  Betters.  167 


the  sleighing  would  be  so  bad  that  Rachel 
could  not  conveniently  come  to  Rome 
with  brother  George  but  it  has  fortu 
nately  prooved  otherwise.  I  am  not  as 
yet  determined  how  to  spend  the  summer 
but  have  a  number  of  schemes  which  I 
hope  may  turn  out  to  advantage  I  shall 
take  care  to  give  you  notice  when  I  have 
determined  on  any  measures  —  You  will 
percieve  by  this  that  I  am  in  (what  Rachel 
calls)  a  low  key  and  can  hardly  keep  open 
my  eyes. 

I  continue  affectionately 
Your  Brother 

BENJ  HUNTINGTON 

MlSS    HUNTINGTONS 


It  only  remains  to  add  a  few  details,  before  taking 
leave  of  the  principal  persons  mentioned  in  these  letters. 

Miss  Wells  desires  me  to  mention  the  tradition  that 
Tom  Moore,  when  he  was  in  New  York,  sought  the 
hand  of  Rachel  Huntington  in  marriage,  and  wrote 
her  many  letters  and  poems.  These  she  is  said  to 
have  destroyed  before  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Tracy. 


1 68  &l)e  jSjuntinjgton  Ceiters. 

LaFayette  is  said  to  have  visited  her  in  Whites- 
town  in  1825. 

Many  stories  of  the  patriotism  of  Rachel's  mother- 
in-law,  Margaret  (Grant)  Tracy,  have  been  handed 
down  in  the  family.  Not  content  with  hanging  the 
portraits  of  George  Guelph  and  his  wife  upside  down, 
she  dug  a  ruby  out  of  her  engagement  ring,  sold  it  to 
the  British,  and  gave  the  money  to  the  American  army. 
It  is  also  recorded  of  her  that  she  was  very  fond  of  tea, 
but  being  too  patriotic  to  drink  it  openly  in  conse 
quence  of  the  agitation  against  the  Stamp  Act,  she 
used  a  mahogany  table,  made  with  a  drawer  in  which 
the  cups  could  be  hastily  slipped  when  visitors  arrived. 

Sister  Anne,  or  Nancy,  was  a  great  beauty,  opened 
many  balls,  and  at  the  same  time  cultivated  her  mind 
by  studying  Blackstone  and  reading  German.  She 
never  married,  and  died  at  Rome,  N.  Y.,  in  1842. 

Lucy  married  Dr.  Matthew  Brown,  resided  for  a 
while  at  Rome,  N.  Y.,  and  afterward  at  Rochester, 
N.  Y. 

Among  the  grandchildren  of  the  Hon.  Benjamin 
Huntington,  of  Norwich,  and  his  wife  Anne,  a  word 
should  be  said  about  the  noted  portrait  painter,  Daniel, 
son  of  Benjamin,  Jr.  He  was  born  October  1 4, 1 8 1 6,  and 
married  at  St.  Ann's  Church,  Brooklyn,  June  16,  1842, 
Sophia  Richards.  He  is  now  living  in  New  York.  His 
life  has  been  given  to  the  cultivation  of  the  fine  arts,  for 
which  Nature  designed  him,  and  in  which  his  success 
has  been  unquestioned.  Especially  has  he  acquired  a 
continental  reputation  as  a  portrait  painter.  It  may  be 
interesting  here  to  quote  part  of  a  review  of  his  work, 


Cotters.  169 


which  appeared  in  the  "  Whig  Review  "  as  long  ago 
as  August,  1846,  and  is  reproduced  in  the  "  Huntington 
Memoir  "  :  "  Huntington,  to  whom  we  are  inclined  to 
give  the  highest  place  among  our  artists  of  the  highest 
school,  sent  five  pictures,  exclusive  of  three  portraits, 
any  one  of  which  would  have  asserted  his  pre-emi 
nence  in  this  department  of  his  art.  .  .  .  His  female 
heads  are  remarkable  for  their  graceful  contour,  their 
high  foreheads,  but  broad,  low,  and  classical  brows,  and 
for  their  perfectly  feminine  expression,  which,  as  well 
as  their  freedom  from  that  exaggeration  of  points  of 
beauty,  such  as  large  eyes  and  small  mouths,  into 
which  modern  painters  are  apt  to  fall,  gives  them  a 
truthful  air  which  some  of  hot-bed  taste  mistake  for 
materiality.  .  .  .  His  heads  of  old  men  have  equal 
excellence,  and  are  full  of  character  and  vigorous  draw 
ing.  .  .  .  Huntington's  pictures  bear  the  stamp  of 
high  cultivation  and  of  great  genius.  Not  only  are 
his  conceptions  beautiful,  just,  and  of  a  high  poetic 
order,  and  his  designs  clear,  but  his  work  is  almost 
always  well  done.  The  tone  of  his  pictures  is  such 
that  the  eye  rests  upon  them  with  delight  and  content 
ment ;  the  heart  sympathizes  with  the  sentiment  ex 
pressed,  and  the  judgment  approves  almost  without  a 
but."  Daniel  Huntington  is  one  of  the  founders  of 
the  Century  Association  in  New  York,  and  in  1861 
was  elected  President  of  the  National  Academy  of  De 
sign  as  the  third  president,  the  first  two  having  been 
Prof.  Morse  and  A.  B.  Durand. 


MISCELLANEOUS   LETTERS 
AND   DOCUMENTS. 


12 


MISCELLANEOUS    LETTERS 
AND   DOCUMENTS. 


THE  following  letter  within  a  letter  is  perhaps  the 
most  curious  in  the  whole  collection.  It  purports  to 
have  been  written  by  one  Abigail  Grant  to  her  hus 
band  Azariah,  but  it  exists  only  in  the  form  of  a  copy, 
being  part  of  another  letter,  which  bears  no  address, 
and  of  which  the  signature  has  been  torn,  or  cut  off. 

The  two  letters  together,  in  the  same  handwriting, 
are  written  on  both  sides  of  a  single  sheet,  now  yellow 
with  age. 

As  there  is  no  direct  indication  either  of  the  sender 
or  receiver  of  the  second  letter,  one  could  only  guess 
at  their  identity  from  the  context,  but  the  editor  is 
constrained  to  admit  that,  after  considerable  research, 
he  is  unable  to  give  a  satisfactory  solution  to  this 
riddle.  Moreover,  the  date  which  heads  the  sheet, 
might  be  read  either  1775  or  1776,  though  the  latter 
seems  the  more  likely.  To  cap  the  climax  of  uncer 
tainty,  however,  Abigail  Grant,  according  to  the  records, 
died  twelve  years  before  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill, 
so  that  the  first  letter  may  possibly  not  be  genuine 
at  all. 


174  ®l)c  ^untington  Cotters. 


I. 

August  ye  igth  A.  D.  1776  \pr  1775?] 

LOVING  HUSBAND  after  Love  to  I  would 
inform  you  that  we  are  well  through  Gods 
mercy  upon  us  and  through  the  Same 
Mercy  I  hope  these  Lines  will  find  you 
well  also  I  keep  writing  to  you  again  & 
again  &  never  can  have  only  one  Letter 
from  you  tho  I  hear  by  Captn  Wm  Riley  * 
news  that  makes  me  very  Sorry  for  he 
Says  you  proved  a  Grand  Coward  when 
the  fight  was  at  Bunkers  hill  &  in  your  Sur 
prise  he  reports  that  you  threw  away  your 
Cartridges  So  as  to  escape  going  into  the 
Battle  I  am  loath  to  believe  it  but  yet  I 
must  unless  you  will  write  to  me  &  inform 
me  how  it  is,  And  if  you  are  afraid  pray 

*  No   Captain   William   Riley  appears  in  the  lists  of 
Revolutionary  soldiers  of  Connecticut. 


i^nntington  £cttcrs.  175 


own  the  truth  &  come  home  &  take  care 
of  our  Children  &  I  will  be  Glad  to  Come 
&  take  your  place,  &  never  will  be  Called 
a  Coward,  neither  will  I  throw  away  one 
Cartridge  but  exert  myself  bravely  in  so 
good  a  Cause.  So  hopeing  you  will  let 
me  know  how  it  is,  &  how  you  do,  So  bid 
ding  you  farewell,  wishing  you  the  best 
of  heavens  Blessings  &  a  Safe  &  manlike 
return,  subscribing  myself  your  Loveing 

wife  untill  Death 

ABIGAIL  GRANT* 

(Dont  Shew  Grants  Letter) 

The  Above  is  a  true  Coppy  of  a  Letter 
Sent  to  Azariah  Grant  by  his  wife.  I  was 

*  In  "Ancient  Windsor,  Connecticut,"  by  Henry  R. 
Stiles,  vol.  ii,  p.  309,  is  to  be  found  the  following  account 
of  Azariah  and  Abigail  Grant  : 

"Azariah  Grant,  born  at  East  Windsor  about  1722; 
was  appointed  one  of  the  administrators  of  his  father's, 
Samuel  Grant,  estate,  May,  1751,  and  called  the  eldest 
son  in  the  distribution,  3  Dec.,  1751.  He  married  6  July, 
1749,  with  Abigail  Beman  ;  settled  in  the  house  which 
stood  next  north  the  late  Major  F.  W.  Grant's  house  in 


176  (ftlje  Ijuntington  Betters. 

so  vastly  pleased  with  the  natural  Simplec- 
ity  of  it  &  the  Cutting  Reflections  I  could 
not  but  Send  it  you.  What  must  a  man  of 

East  Windsor,  where  she  died  26  (var.  ig)  Feb.,  1763. 

He  married  with  (2)  Eunice  ,  and  she  died  19  Feb., 

1784.  He  married  26  Oct.,  1886  [sic],  with  (3)  Mrs.  Mary 
(Benton)  White,  b.  15  Sept.,  1741,  wid.  of  George  White. 
He  died  at  Windsor,  17  (var.  16)  April,  1798,  aged  76 
years.  She  died  at  Winsted,  3  Dec.,  1800,  aged  59  years." 

Azariah  and  Abigail  had  six  children,  of  whom  all  did 
not  grow  to  maturity. 

Azariah  was  great-great-grandson  of  that  Matthew 
Grant,  one  of  the  original  company,  who  came  in  1630  to 
Dorchester.  General  Ulysses  S.  Grant  was  a  descendant 
of  this  same  Matthew. 

As  for  Azariah's  war  record,  the  editor  has  gleaned  the 
following  facts  : 

He  enlisted  May  9,  1775,  in  a  Connecticut  regiment 
raised  on  the  first  call  for  troops.  His  regiment,  marching 
by  companies  to  the  camps  around  Boston,  took  post  at 
Roxbury,  and  served  during  the  siege  until  the  expiration 
of  its  term  of  service  in  December,  1775.  Detachments  of 
officers  and  men  were  engaged  at  the  battle  of  Bunker 
Hill,  June  I7th,  and  in  Arnold's  Quebec  expedition.  Aza 
riah  was  discharged  December  joth. 

In  November,  1776,  the  General  Assembly,  in  view  of 
approaching  cold,  directed  the  selectmen  of  each  town  to 
collect  blankets  to  send  to  soldiers  serving  in  the  Conti 
nental  Army.  On  this  occasion  Captain  Ebenezer  Grant 
made  out  a  list  of  towns,  and  the  blankets  were  carefully 
apprized  by  Messrs.  Nathaniel  Strong  and  Azariah  Grant. 


^nnlington  Cetters.  177 


any  feelings  undergo  at  the  upbraidings  of 
suck,  and  so  near  a  friend  Would  you  not 
rather  be  cut  inch  by  inch  to  pieces? 
Would  you  undergo  half  so  much  in  that 

In  1777  Azariah  Grant  joined  the  additional  infantry 
raised  in  Connecticut  for  the  Continental  Army.  He  en 
listed  March  2Oth  for  the  war,  and  his  name  appears  on 
the  military  rolls  at  various  times  until  December  31,  1781. 

On  April  12,  1779,  Azariah  Grant  was  among  the  per 
sons  in  East  Windsor  who  took  the  oath  of  fidelity  to  the 
State  of  Connecticut. 

Finally,  he  is  found  among  the  Connecticut  pensioners, 
residing  in  Vermont,  who  benefited  by  the  pension  laws, 
passed  by  Congress  on  March  18,  1818,  for  the  survivors  of 
the  Revolutionary  War,  who  had  served  for  nine  months  or 
more  in  the  Continental  Army  or  Navy. 

Azariah  Grant's  military  record  is,  therefore,  on  the 
surface  a  thoroughly  good  one. 

The  Grant  and  Huntington  families  have  been  more 
than  once  united  by  marriage.  Matthew  Grant  married  a 
widow,  Susanna  Rockwell.  Her  second  daughter,  Ruth 
Rockwell,  married  Christopher  Huntington,  great-grand 
father  of  Anne  Huntington,  wife  of  the  Hon.  Benjamin 
Huntington.  A  great-granddaughter  of  Christopher  Hunt 
ington,  Martha  Huntington,  married  Noah  Grant,  a  great- 
grandson  of  Matthew.  From  this  marriage  came  a  second 
Noah  Grant,  a  captain  in  the  old  French  War.  The  third 
son  of  this  captain,  who  also  bore  the  name  of  Noah,  re 
sided  in  Coventry,  Conn.,  and  had  a  son  named  Jesse  Root 
Grant,  who  was  father  of  General  Ulysses  S.  Grant. 


1 78  ®I)e  ^untington  £etters. 

way  ?  but  he  is  Callous  &  does  not  feel  it 
Laughs  &  makes  a  Jest  of  it  as  much  as 
any  of  his  Mates  do.  Tho  he  Owns  & 
Swears  it  is  Certainly  his  Wifes  hand,  She 
Certainly  wrote  it  &c  &c 

When  I  began  Coppying  it  I  thought 
not  of  adding,  but  it  is  a  pity  to  Send 
much  Clean  paper  out  of  Camp  &  So  I 
will  go  on — What  Came  of  my  Letter  to 
the  Treasurer  ?  Did  he  give  you  no  An 
swer?  My  Men  are  Suffering,  many  of 
them,  for  want  of  the  Money  for  Necessary 
Cloaths,  Sauce,  [?]  which  they  are  most 
unrighteously  Obliged  to  buy  themselves 
a  great  part  of  the  time  Since  the  new 
Continental  Regulations  took  place  &c  &c 
Your  Blanketts  I  cannot  yet  hear  a  Word 
of. — Pray  how  goes  the  Onions?  If  you 
can  get  any  here  they  will  fetch  you  4d  pr 
Bunch — I  hear  you  have  had  a  Brush  with 
Meddliters  [?]  (alias  Mat  Talcott)  *  because 

*  Matthew  Talcott,  of  Middletown,  Conn.,  was  lieuten 
ant  colonel  of  the  Sixth  Regiment  at  the  outbreak  of  the 


gnntington  Cetters.  179 


they  stopped  2  or  three  of  your  Vessells 
loaded  with  Onions*  going  Down  the 
River  Why  do  you  not  write  me  of  Such 
kind  of  News?  How  goes  on  the  Skeen 
Business  of  your  being  a  Tory  etc.  etc.  ? 
Pray  give  me  a  Little  discription  of  Leon 
ards  House  I  believe  it  may  Safely  be 
worshipped  for  by  all  accts  its  neither  the 
Likeness  of  anything  in  Heaven  Above  or 
in  the  Earth  beneath  or  in  the  Waters 
under  the  Earth  Sammy  was  over  here 
yesterday  at  Cap1  Watermans  f  &  Sent  for 
me,  but  I  was  Tied  fast  on  a  Court  Martial 


war.  Was  promoted  colonel  of  the  Twenty-third  Regiment 
in  May,  1775  ;  commanded  his  regiment  in  the  campaign 
around  New  York  during  the  summer  of  1776,  and  re 
signed  in  the  fall  of  that  year. 

*  The  mention  of  onions  suggests  Wethersfield  as  the 
home  of  the  person  to  whom  this  letter  is  addressed. 

f  A  John  Waterman,  of  Norwich,  was  a  quartermaster 
sergeant  of  the  Third  Regiment,  General  Putnam's,  in 

1775- 

A  Captain  Abraham  Waterman  marched  with  part  of 
the  Twenty-fifth  Regiment  of  the  Connecticut  militia  in 
the  alarm  when  the  British  shipping  lay  off  New  London, 
September^  1778. 


i  So  &i)c  jjjtmtinjgtott  Otters. 

&  could  not  possible  go  till  almost  (2)  (3) 
Clock  &  then  he  was  gone.  He  is  so  Ele 
vated  with  his  promotion  that  he  will  not 
Condescend  to  come  up  the  hill  to  Our  en 
campment — Never  Mind  we'll  be  in  .... 
....  him  up  yet 


i^nnlington  £ctters.  181 


II. 

This  copy  of  a  document  is  in  a  woman's  hand 
writing,  on  modern  white  note  paper. 

(COPY.) 

In  1779,  Col.  William  Browne,  of  Salem, 
in  the  Old  Bay  State,  had  a  farm  in  Lynn, 
Conn.,  of  twelve  thousand  four  hundred  & 
thirty-six  acres,  which  had  been  leased  for 
a  term  of  years,  with  nine  slaves — Benja 
min  Huntington,  Esq.  the  administrator 
on  confiscated  estates,  when  making-  his 
return  of  the  inventory  of  Mr.  Browne's 
property,  stated  to  the  general  assembly 
that  there  were  "  a  number  of  slaves  ap 
prized,  who  beg  for  their  liberty  ;  "  &  that 
the  lessee  of  the  farm  would  assent  to  their 


1 82  (Efje  ijtttttinjgton  fitters. 

being  liberated,  without  requiring  a  dim 
inution  of  his  rent.  Accompanying  the 
inventory  was  the  following  petition,  in 
the  handwriting  of  Mr.  Huntington : 

To  the  Hon.  General  Assembly  of  the 
State  of  Connecticut,  now  sitting  in  Hart 
ford : 

The  memorial  of  Great  Prince,  Little 
Prince,  Luke,  Caesar,  &  Prue  &  her  three 
children,  all  friends  to  America,  but  slaves 
(lately  belonging  to  Col.  William  Browne, 
now  forfeited  to  this  state,)  humbly  shew- 
eth,  that  their  late  master  was  a  tory,  & 
fled  from  his  native  country  to  his  master, 
King  George,  where  he  now  lives  like  a 
poor  slave. 

That  your  memorialists,  though  they 
have  flat  noses,  crooked  shins,  &  other 
queerness  of  shape  peculiar  to  Africans, 
are  yet  of  the  human  race  ;  free  born  in 
our  own  country,  taken  from  there  by 
man-stealers,  &  sold  in  this  country  as 


(Elje  fjantington  Cettcrs.  183 

cattle  in  the  market,  without  the  least  act 
of  our  own,  forfeit  liberty ;  but  we  hope 
our  good  mistress,  the  free  State  of  Connect 
icut,  engaged  in  a  war  with  tyranny,  will 
not  sell  good  honest  Whigs  &  friends  of 
freedom  &  independence  of  America,  as 
we  are,  to  raise  cash  to  support  the  war; 
because  the  Whigs  ought  to  be  free,  &  the 
tories  should  be  sold. 

Therefore  your  memorialists  pray  your 
honors  to  consider  their  case,  &  grant 
them  their  freedom  upon  their  getting 
security  to  indemnify  the  State  from  any 
expense  for  their  support  in  case  of  want, 
or  in  some  other  way  release  them  from 
slavery. 

And  your  poor  negroes,  as  in  duty 
bound,  shall  ever  pray. 

GREAT  PRINCE, 
LITTLE  PRINCE, 
LUKE,  &c. 
Dated  at  Lynn, 
Election  Day,  1779. 


1 84  QLtye  Ijmttington  £cttcr0. 

The  Lower  House  granted  but  the  Upper 
House  negatived  the  prayer  of  the  memorial. 
A  Commitete  of  Conference  was  appoint 
ed,  but  each  House  adhered  to  the  original 
vote. 


£ettere.  185 


III. 

A  letter  from  Governor  Huntington. 

NORWICH  April  24^ 

SIR 

I  have  receivd  your  several  letters  of 
March  6th — 13th — &  2oth,  besides  several 
packets  of  newspapers  under  cover  of  your 
superscription. 

Your  Son  hath  found  Joseph  Storys 
power  of  Attorney  to  you,  together  with 
my  letter  which  first  enclosed  it  to 
you 

I  now  send  them  both  herewith  en- 
closd,  &  wish  you  may  be  able  to  obtain 
the  whole  demand  due  to  Story  both 
money  &  Clothing,  it  will  do  the  poor 


1 86  ®l)e  ^untington  Cetttts. 

Soldier   a   great   kindness,   &  he   asks   no 
more  than  Simple  Justice 
With  sincere  Esteem 
&  Respect 
I  am  sir 

your  humble  Serv* 
SAML  HUNTINGTON 

HONBLE  B.  HUNTINGTON  ESQR 


guntington  fitters.  187 


IV. 

NEWHAVEN  Feby  it 

Mr  Eveleigh  has  presented  me  my  ac 
count  from  the  Treasury  books  &  indulges 
me  only  the  present  Sessions  of  Congress 
to  procure  him  an  authority  for  my  dis 
charge. 

I  have  heretofore  attempted  to  interest 
you  in  this  business  &  given  you  some  in 
formation  of  the  difficulty  attending  it. 
The  time  is  now  become  short  &  the  case 
pressing — &  as  neither  the  State  of  my 
health  or  finances  admit  of  my  coming  to 
Philadelphia  to  procure  myself  justice  ;  & 
as  I  know  very  well  by  experience  that  it 

is  ruinous  to  a  poor  man's  affairs  to  dance 
13 


1 88  &l)e  ijjttntington  Cettera. 

attendance  upon  Congress  for  such  pur 
pose — I  must  repeat  my  Solicitations  that 
you  would  endeavour  to  get  justice  done 
for  me,  or  at  least  procure  an  Act  to  can 
cel  my  Account  at  the  Treasury. — 

I  must  now  recapitulate  the  circum 
stances  which  hitherto  have  obstructed  the 
business : 

In  the  first  place  applications  from  time 
to  time  during  my  service  in  the  pay- 
Office  to  have  my  Salary  fixed  were  either 
ineffectual  or  prevented  by  more  impor 
tant  affairs  in  Congress — even  immediately 
prior  to  the  disbanding  the  Army,  Con 
gress  were  in  no  disposition  to  do  any 
thing  with  me — (perhaps  because  a  larger 
representation  of  the  nature  &  difficulties 
of  my  Service  was  thought  necessary  to 
be  made  than  any  Member  of  Congress 
was  willing  to  attend  to.) 

On  My  discharge  from  the  Army  there 
fore,  the  Paymaster  General,  who  having 
had  previous  conversation  with  the  Super- 


£etters.  189 


intendant  of  Finance  upon  the  Subject,  & 
being  unwilling  to  Send  me  home  without 
a  penny,  put  into  my  hands  a  Sum  of 
money,  which,  with  what  I  had  before  re 
ceived,  he  declared  was  within  the  allow 
ance  which  the  said  Superintendant  of 
Finance  conceived  I  was  intitled  to  —  The 
opinion  of  a  person  who  was  had  at  that 
time  in  Such  universal  &  supreme  respect, 
as  well  as  Authority  in  Some  Similar  mat 
ters,  was  a  kind  of  warrant  to  the  Pay 
master  General,  &  I  certainly  never  ex 
pected  afterwards  but  to  receive  a  balance 
not  to  pay  any  —  However  in  the  winter 
following,  when  Congress  were  at  Anapo- 
lis,  upon  a  representation  of  my  having  re 
tired  from  Service  &  a  request  by  the  pay 
master  General  that  my  Salary  might  be 
fixed  Congress  immediately  passed  an 
Act  without  any  enquiry  which  did  not 
defray  my  necessary  expenses.  —  The  Pay 
master  General  declared  he  never  would 
Suffer  the  allowances  made  by  that  act 


Ijtttttin^ton  fitters. 


to  be  passed  to  my  credit,  &  accordingly 
nothing  hath  ever  been  entered.  Frequent 
Applications  were  afterwards  made,  both 
by  the  Paymaster  General  &  myself  —  at 
length  a  Committee  was  obtained,  who 
seemed  disposed  to  consult  entirely  with 
the  Paymaster  General,  I  left  all  to  him  & 
them  &  came  home  — 

Mr  Pierce  drew  out  my  account  for  the 
Committee  agreeably  to  the  ideas  before 
settled  upon  between  him  &  the  Superin- 
tendant  of  Finance,  &  the  Committee  made 
report  thereon  which  Mr  Pierce  informed 
me  cast  the  balance  in  my  favor  —  certainly 
this  event  gave  great  quiet  to  my  mind,  as 
I  thought  by  it,  my  object  was  more  than 
half  obtained.  —  However  the  report  hath 
never  been  called  up,  though  I  have  en 
gaged  Members  to  attend  to  it,  they  in 
formed  me  there  had  not  been  a  fit  oppor 
tunity.  But  Col°  Wadsworth  told  me  not 
to  fear,  that  Congress  would  certainly  pass 
my  account.  I  rested  upon  that,  till  lately 


^untington  Cetters.  191 


I  have  heard  that  the  report  &  every  thing 
concerning  it  were  lost.  1  now  am  in  de 
spair,  for  I  have  no  more  money  to  lose 
upon  the  affair,  &  cannot  attend  upon  Con 
gress  be  the  event  what  it  will.  I  am  in 
an  extreme  low  state  of  health,  &  it  is 
well  known  enough  that  I  have  not  ten 
pounds  to  command  in  the  world. 

I  Suppose  that  what  I  shall  add  to  this 
Letter,  if  you  can  have  patience  to  read  it 
through,  will  be  a  Sufficient  foundation  for 
you  to  make  a  representation  to  the  House 
by  which  if  nothing  can  done  for  me,  an 
unnecessary  public  prosecution  may  be 
prevented  when  nothing  is  to  be  obtained. 

The  Articles  of  my  Account  drawn  out 
for  the  Committee  by  the  paymaster  Gen 
eral  I  presume  were  these  — 

depreciation  of  pay  as  Adjutant  of  Ar 
tillery,  (Stevens's  Corps  not  recognized  by 
any  State  till  after  I  left  it)  August  1777  to 
October  1778  at  50  Dollars  per  month  & 
three  rations  per  day  — 


Pay  as  Chief  Assistant  Paymaster  Gen 
eral  at  Camp  from  November  i*  1779  *° 
Mr  Pierce's  appointment  to  the  office  of 
Paymaster  General,  at  Six  hundred  dol 
lars  a  year  &  two  rations  a  day — 

Salary  as  Deputy  paymaster  General 
from  Mr  Pierces  promotion  till  the  end  of 
November  1783  at  one  Thousand  Dollars 
a  year  &  Six  rations  per  day — 

Allowance  for  Forage  for  two  horses 
when  forage  was  not  Supplied  by  the  For 
age  Master — 

Ditto  for  two  hired  Servants  from  the 
time  that  the  Commander  in  Chief  forbid 
Officers  not  of  the  line  to  take  servants 
from  the  line — 

Ditto  for  Stationary,  fuel  &  Office  rent 
(when  not  furnished  by  the  Quarter  Mas 
ter)— 

Extra  expenses  of  Journeys  on  public 
business. 

As  I  have  not  a  Single  paper  respect 
ing  my  transactions  in  the  Pay  Office 


^nntington  fitters.  193 


I  can  only  as  I  have  done  state  these 
matters  generally  —  Every  Letter  &  all  my 
Vouchers  &  Documents  &  every  paper  of 
whatever  kind  of  a  public  nature  were  left 
with  the  Paymaster  General  —  they  were 
necessary  to  him  —  to  me  I  supposed  they 
could  be  only  a  useless  burden.  For  I 
supposed  my  Salary  would  be  ineviata- 
bly  fixed  upon  some  just  principles,  as  I 
expected  to  be  a  citizen  of  the  independent 
States  of  America  — 

As  I  never  saw  the  Account  drawn  out 
by  Mr  Pierce  for  the  Committee  nor  know 
not  what  it  was,  only  I  know  it  was  in 
tended  to  be  as  I  have  Stated—  I  know 
not  what  the  report  of  the  Committee  was, 
what  they  allowed,  or  what  they  disal 
lowed,  only  that  I.  was  informed  it  was 
Sufficient  to  cover  me  &  more. 

These  however  are  facts  —  that  I  served 
the  period  mentioned  in  Stevens  Corps  of 
Adjutant  of  Artillery  &  never  had  my  de 
preciation  made  up  by  any  State  for  the 


194  &b*  finntington  fitters. 

reason  assigned — Also  in  the  Pay  Office 
as  represented — two  horses  I  kept  while 
deputy  paymaster  General,  part  of  the 
time  at  my  own  Charge,  I  cannot  tell  par 
ticularly, — they  were  absolutely  necessary, 
any  one  who  knows  the  Service  will  be 
convinced  of  it  on  a  moments  reflexion — 
two  Servants  I  hired  at  10  Dollars  per 
Month  each,  from  the  time  of  the  Com 
mander  in  Chief's  order,  which  forbid  me 
&  all  other  Officers  not  of  the  line  to 
take  Servants  of  the  line— The  order  ex 
ists  &  may  be  found — The  order  which 
forbid  taking  Servants  from  the  line,  did 
not  prohibit  servants  to  this  description 
of  Officers  but  the  order  itself  directed 
such  Officers  to  hire  their  own  Servants. 
The  two  Servants  were  absolutely  neces 
sary  to  me,  one  as  a  Messenger  &  for 
other  Services,  the  other  as  a  Cook — It 
could  not  be  expected  that  I  should  pay 
the  whole  Army  Six  times  a  Month,  as  I 
absolutely  did,  examine  &  keep  accounts, 


fjnntington  Cotters.  195 


without  any  clerk,  which  is  also  a  fact,  & 
besides  all  this,  run  of  errands  &  cook  my 
own  victuals.  The  pay  of  the  Servants 
was  less  than  the  allowance  to  Soldiers, 
reckoning  their  clothing  —  Stationary,  fuel 
&  Office  rent  I  frequently  provided  at  my 
own  charge  ;  —  Several  journeys  to  Albany 
&  Livingston's  Manner  after  public  Money 
at  great  expense  —  The  amount  of  all  which 
I  cannot  say  particularly  — 

With  respect  to  my  Salary  as  Assist 
ant  &  Deputy  Paymaster  General  —  it  was 
justly  considered  that  a  chief  &  confiden 
tial  assistant  in  the  Pay  Office  with  the 
tmst  of  money  was  different  from  a  com 
mon  Clerk  in  a  common  Office  who  writes 
Six  hours  a  day  &  the  rest  of  the  time  to 
pleasure,  &  the  Six  hundred  dollars  was 
but  a  moderate  allowance. 

As  Deputy  Paymaster  General  the 
whole  business  was  performed  by  me 
without  any  Clerk,  &  Mr  Morris  directed 
the  pay  to  be  divided,  so  that  I  absolutely 


i96  &b*  Ijuntington  Betters. 

made  Six  different  payments  a  month   to 
the  whole  Army.     The  Service,  Sir,  &  the 


*  Thus  incomplete. 


£etters.  197 


V. 

OSTEND  AUSTRIAN  FLANDERS  16*%  May 

THE  HON  BENJ  HUNTINGTON 

SIR— 

Presuming  on  your  well  known  Be 
nevolence  &  Candour,  I've  taken  the  Lib 
erty  to  address  you  on  a  Subject  which 
your  Superior  Judg1  &  good  Sense  must 
Convince  you  is  worthy -your  Attention  I 
address  you  as  a  friend  &  Patriot  to  the 
Country  who  I  have  the  Honor  to  belong 
to  and  Seeing  the  Laws  of  that  Country 
Violated  I  think  it  my  Duty  as  a  Citizen 
to  Seek  Redress  &  Know  of  no  Person  to 
whom  I  may  better  apply  to  than  a  man  of 


198  &t)£  ^nntington  tetters. 

your  Exalted  Station.  I  will  briefly  open 
the  mater  to  you  and  point  out  Several 
instances  where  the  Colours  of  the  United 
States  and  the  Commanders  of  such  Col 
ours  have  been  treated  with  the  Greatest 
Indignity  One  Instance  Occurred  4th  In 
stant  (viz)  Capt  Curtis  Reed  of  the  Ship 
Abigail  of  Boston  felt  severely  the  want 
of  a  Consul  to  Represent  his  Case  to  the 
Court  of  Brussells — Several  of  the  Ship's 
Crew  had  left  Capt  Reed  four  or  five  days 
without  leave  and  then  applied  for  their 
Wages.  By  the  laws  of  the  United  States 
their  Goods  of  every  kind  with  their  whole 
wages  were  forfeited,  of  Course  Capt  Read 
Denied  Paying  their  wages  untill  his  ar 
rival  in  America  Agreeable  to  his  Articles 
as  the  wages  were  not  due  untill  that  Time 
and  further  he  could  not  answer  it  to  his 
owners,  on  his  denial  his  Sailors  made 
application  to  the  Grand  Bailieu  of  this 
Town  who  Immediately  sent  two  officers 
and  arrested  Capt  Reed  in  the  Open 


QLtyc  ^untington  £*tter0.  199 

Street  and  took  him  to  Prison  like  a  Com- 
mon  Vagrant  where  he  was  detained  untill 
he  gave  Sufficient  bonds  for  his  appear 
ance  at  Court  5th  Instant  Capt  Reed  ap 
peared  before  the  Magistrates  and  was 
ordered  Immediately  to  pay  the  Wages  of 
his  Sailors  at  a  time  they  were  not  due 
and  to  Discharge  Such  of  his  Sailors  as 
were  not  Satisfied  to  go  the  Voyage  within 
him  &  further  &  further  to  pay  all  Costs  of 
arrests  &c  to  the  amount  of  £$2 — 10 — & 
this  in  open  Violation  to  the  laws  of  the 
United  States  of  North  America  Ive  now 
been  two  Years  a  Resident  of  this  Town 
&  never  knew  of  an  Instance  of  the  Kind 
with  the  Ships  of  any  other  Nation  there 
being  Consuls  of  all  Nations  residing  in 
this  Town  Except  of  America.  Another 
Instance,  Adam  Babcock  Esqr  Commander 
of  the  Ship  Enterprize  belonging  to  Bos 
ton  was  treated  in  the  Same  manner  and 
Remained  in  Prison  two  Days  for  not  pay 
ing  the  Wages  of  his  Sailors  that  were  not 


200  &lje  4jjtnttittjgt0n 


due  and  was  after  Obliged  by  arbitrary 
power  to  pay  and  Discharge  the  whole 
Crew  (which  were  American  Subjects) 
which  was  very  much  to  the  Detriment 
of  his  Voyage,  Capt  Samuel  Foster  of  the 
Ship  Despatch  of  Boston  was  treated  in 
the  Same  Manner  Lodged  in  Prison  and 
Obliged  to  Pay  his  People  when  their 
wages  was  not  Due  in  open  Violation  to 
the  Laws  of  the  United  States  —  Instances 
of  this  kind  so  Often  Occurring  and  so 
much  to  the  Disadvantage  of  the  Trade  of 
the  united  States  and  Derogatory  to  the 
Honor  of  a  free  and  Independent  Nation,  I 
doubt  not  but  you  will  take  matter  into 
your  wise  &  Serious  consideration  and  lay 
the  same  before  that  most  august  Body 
the  Congress  of  the  United  States  of 
North  America  and  they  beyond  a  Doubt 
will  find  Just  Cause  to  appoint  an  Ameri 
can  Consul  to  Reside  in  the  Town  of 
Ostend  in  the  Austrian  Netherlands  to 
prevent  any  further  Abuses  and  Indigni- 


201 


ties  Offered  either  to  the  Colours  or 
Commanders  of  Ships  belonging  to  the 
United  States  of  North  America 

Being  a  Resident  of  the  Town  of  Ost- 
end  and  an  American  I  take  the  further 
Liberty  to  Offer  myself  as  a  Candidate 
for  the  Office  &  Should  that  most  august 
Body  the  Continental  Congress  think 
Proper  to  Confer  on  me  that  Honor  I 
flatter  myself  I  should  so  fill  the  Office 
as  to  Give  them  Intire  Satisfaction  —  The 
earlier  part  of  my  life  was  Spent  in  a 
Counting  house  —  My  family  are  residents 
in  the  Town  of  Boston  in  New  England 
&  I  Believe  Sir  my  Father  not  wholly 
unknown  to  you  —  Dan1  Hubbard  Esq 
Merchant  of  Boston,  Should  this  Meet 
your  approbation  &  You  Should  think 
Proper  to  do  me  the  honor  to  answer 
this  Letter  if  you  Direct  for  me  to  the 
Care  of  Messre  Sharnock  &  C°  Merchants 
Ostend  it  will  come  Safe  to  hand  —  Let 
ters  lodged  in  London  to  be  put  into  the 


202  Qi^e  fjnntittgton  Betters. 

Flanders  Mail  is  the  Most  Direct  &  Safe 
Conveyance 

Interim  I    have  the  Honor  to  be  your 
most  Obedient  hum1  Serv* 

THOS-  G.  HUBBARD 


Qutttington  fitters.  203 


VI. 

NORWICH  IN  CONNECTICUT  Now  first 

SIR 

I  Recd  the  Inclosed  Letter  on  the  3d  of 
August  but  as  the  President  was  on  his 
Tour  to  the  Southward  I  Supposed  it 
needless  to  Convey  it  to  you  untill  his 
Return  to  do  Business  at  Philada  when 
Congress  would  be  together  and  the  Gen 
tlemen  from  Massachusetts  might  be  En 
quired  of  Concerning  the  Character  to 
Mr  Hubbard  he  is  of  a  Good  Family  in 
Boston  but  I  have  no  Acquaintance  with 
him  I  find  on  Inquiry  that  he  is  a  Young 
Gentleman  of  a  Sprightly  turn  and  Good 
[abilities?]  As  The  Necessity  of  appoint 
ing  a  Consul  at  Ostend  is  a  Subject  of 

which  the   President  is   to  Judge  I    have 
14 


204  &!)£  ^ttntingtcn  Cetters. 

send  you  the  Original  Letter  and  kept 
only  a  Copy  &  Submit  the  Propriety  of 
laying  it  before  the  President  to  your  Dis- 
retion — 

I  am  with  Great  Respect 

Sir  your  Most  hum1  Serv* 

B  H 

His  Ex0?  THOS  JEFFERSON 
Sec1?  of  State 


funtington  £eiter0.  205 


VII. 

HARTFORD  29**-  June  1795  — 


~ 

I  propose  to  go  to  Boston  in  a  few  days 
on  some  Special  Business  and  as  I  have 
not  been  there  since  since  the  year  1772, 
in  which  time  almost  all  my  old  acquaint 
ance  are  either  dead  or  gone  away,  I  there 
fore  beg  the  favour  of  you  that  you  would 
be  so  good  as  to  give  me  a  few  Lines  to 
his  Excellency  John  Adams  to  assist  me 
in  his  friendly  advice  if  need  be,  Relative 
to  the  business  I  am  going  upon,  your 
compliance  will  much  Oblige  your  Hum  : 
Sert 
in  hast  at  the  ferry  5  oClock  —  A.  m. 

P  S.  the  Stage  is  this  moment  gone  into 
the  boat  without  my  Letter  I  have  now 
before  another  oppertunity  presents,  Just 
to  give  you  a  hint  of  the  business  I  am 


206  f£l)e  fjjtmlittgtott 


going  upon  to  Boston  (viz)  the  old  Mis- 
sisippi  Lands  said  to  be  obtaind  by  Gen 
eral  Lyman  before  the  year  1772  &  which 
is  now  about  to  be  reviv'd  again,  and  I 
believe  from  what  I  have  heard  that  there 
is  yet  some  Probibility  of  making  some 
thing  out  of  that  affair,  but  more  of  this 
when  I  shall  have  the  pleasure  to  See  you, 
I  wrote  Govenor  Huntington  Last  week, 
but  afterwards  understood  his  Excel?  was 
gone  to  New  Haven,  but  my  Letter  is 
now  Lodg'd  at  the  Govr  House  in  order 
to  procure  a  Letter  to  Govr  Adams  in 
Boston  I  wish  you  would  speak  with 
Govr  Huntington  to  give  me  as  good  a 
Letter  to  Govr  Adams  as  he  thinks  best 
as  also  one  to  President  Adams  if  he 
Judges  it  proper.  I  formerly  shew  those 
Missisippi  papers  (Now  by  me)  to  Judge 
Jay  Doctr  Franklin,  Govr  Livingston,  the 
Honble.  Wm  Smith  Docr  Johnston  &  the 
Honble  Richard  Law,  Govr  Handcock 
Govr  Adams  the  Honble  James  Devvane  of 


(Elje  ^nntington  £etters.  207 

New  York  and  Mathew  Clarkson  Esqr  in 
Philadelphia  who  all  of  them  gave  it  as 
their  oppinion,  that  perhaps  something- 
might  arise  out  of  these  papers  Concern 
ing  the  before  mentioned  Grant  to  Gen1 
Lyman  &  that  might  be  of  some  conse 
quence  to  those  original  Proprietors  that 
first  embarked  in  said  Missisippi  scheam, 
and  sent  Gen1  Lyman  over  to  England  to 
Solicitt  a  Grant  from  the  Crown  of  the 
afore  said  Lands  on  the  E.  Bank  of  the 
River  Missisippi  and  as  his  Excellencys 
&  your  names  (I  think)  are  Entered  on 
the  Book  Containing  the  Records  &  names 
of  the  Old  Proprietors,  as  also  Govr 
Handcock,  Govr  Adams,  Govr  Livingston, 
Doctr  Franklin,  Govr  Franklin  Govr  Oli 
ver,  Mathew  Clarkson  Esqr-  now  Mayor  of 
the  City  of  Philadelphia,  John  Foxcraft 
Esqr  Late  Postmaster  Gen1,  with  Docr 
Franklin  &c  &c  &c,  as  also  some  hundred 
scattered  from  the  River  Sl  Croix  to  Sa 
vannah  in  Georgia  and  many  of  the  first 


208  (ftlje  f  ttntington  betters. 

Characters  in  these  States  as  also  in  Eng 
land,  Ireland,  &  Scotland  are  are  also 
amongst  the  Proprietors  of  the  Grant  said 
to  be  obtained  on  the  E.  Bank  of  the 
River  Missisippi  by  Gen1  Lyman,  &  his 
associates,  Doctr  Johnston,  &  the  Honbl 
Richard  Law  are  also  both  of  them  pro 
prietors  in  said  Grant,  and  Now  Sir,  as  I 
had  not  time  when  I  wrote  Govr  Hunting- 
ton,  I  wish  you  would  be  so  kind  as  to  go 
to  him  when  he  returns  from  New  Haven 
and  Shew  him  what  I  have  wrote  you  and 
that  you  would  also  desire  the  Govr  to 
give  me  as  good  as  a  Letter  as  he  Can  to 
Govr  Adams  and  also  to  the  Honbl  John 
Adams,  your  attention  to  the  Above  will 
add  to  the  many  favours  already  received, 
by  Sir 

Your  Very  Hum :  Ser* 

H:  LEDLIE 

N :  B     Sr   as  I  purpose  With  the  Line  of 
proveidence  to  Sett  off  for  Boston,  by  the 


QTlje  IjmUingttftt  Betters.  209 

first  or  mieddell  of  next  Week  youu  plese 
to  Return  me  an  answer  to  What  I  now 
Write  you  togeather  With  His  Exe  .  .  cys 
&  your  Letters  this  Week  or  if  the  govr 
Should  not  Return  time  enough  from  N 
haven  or  that  no  oppertunety  Either  pub- 
lick  or  priviett  presents  then  in  that  Case 
if  you  or  the  govr  Will  Send  Sd  Letters  to 
me  at  or  Monday  the  I3th  of  July  nixt  I 
Will  pay  the  bearrer  of  Sd  Letters  or  his 
Excellency  or  you  therefore  all  the  prince- 
pall  Gentellmin  in  this  &.  the  neighbour 
ing  States  Were  Conserned  in  ye  above 
Grant.  H.  L. 

June  6th  Since  :  Writting  the  above  at 
which  time  &  Since  I  Could  hear  Nothing 
Conserning  which  Way  his  Exeucy  our 
Govr  intended  to  Return  home  from  N 
Haven  by  yesterday  I  Saw  Cou  Grese- 
ciner  at  our  meetting  who  informed  me 
for  the  first  time,  altho  I  have  Repietted- 
ely  Sent  to  Cap1  bulls  the  gov™  usuall 


210  ®lje  gmttington  Betters. 

Loadgings  that  his  Excell  .  .  cy  Was  gone 
home  by  the  Way  of  Seabrook  &  conce- 
quently  Would  not  Return  this  Way  I 
therefore  Embrace  this  oppertunety  by  the 
Way  of  the  Norwich  Stadge  to  Send  for- 
weard  this  Letter  &  have  promised  him  a 
Reward  Exclucsive  of  postedge  provieded 
he  Will  bring  me  an  answer,  as  Well  from 
the  govr  &  also  from  you  N  :  B  there  is 
Contind  in  the  above  grant  to  Gener11  Ly- 
man  on  the  E  bank  of  the  River:  Missippie 
ab*  tweenty  two  millions  of  (Acres)  So 
that  the  above  Spackeuliation  (Will)  farre 
Exceed  anything  of  the  Kind  that  Ever 
Eithier  Mr  Judge  Willison  or  Mr  Rob1 
Morris  Were  Ever  conserned  in,  it  begins 
N  on  the  River  Yesua  [?]  &  extends  S  from 
the  Lattude  of  31  N  to  32  S  on  the  River 
Missippie  &  I  Verieley  belive  by  the  beste 
&  most  (akkurate)  information  I  Can  gett 
there  is  Some  prospact  of  obetinninge  & 
Making  Something  of  the  above  grant  if  it 
is  Reguelerly  &  properely  prefered — but  I 


fjtnttington  Betters.  211 


shall  no  more  of  this  &  which  I  Will  Com- 
munacatt  to  you  &  his  Exceucy  When  I 
Return  With  the  Line  of  proviedence 
from  boston  Sr  as  I  Write  this  in  very 
great  hurrey  you  Will  plese  to  excuse  the 
bad  Writting  Spelling  Dicksion  &  gramer 
and  as  I  sepose  by  What  Co11  Greseciner 
told  me  yesterday  that  the  governor  gott 
home  Last  Satturday  Evining  I  must  Just 
take  the  Liberty  to  Desier  you  Would  be 
So  good  on  the  Recp*  of  this  to  Step 
Down  to  the  governors  &  Shew  him  this 
my  Letter  to  you  which  togeather  With 
What  I  Wrott  his  Exciellincy  the  2Qth  of 
June  last  Will  give  Him  a  More  particular 
Nerretive  of  what  I  mean  ab1  the  Lands 
on  the  River  Missippie  then  What  I  Wrott 
him  as  above  I  am  Sr  as  before  &c 
your  Hon*5  Most  Humble 

Servant  in  great  hast 

H  :  LEDLIE 

HONORABLE  BINJEMIN  HUNTINGTON  ESQR 
Norwich. 


212  ®I)e  igtmtington  Cetters. 


VIII. 

MANSFIELD  the  i&h  Octobr  1700 

DEAR  S'R 

I  begin  my  letter  now  knowing-  of  any 
Oppertunity  not  how  I  shall  get  it  to  you 
but  propose  to  Send  it  to  Cap1  Gurdon 
your  Son  expecting  that  it  is  the  most 
provable  Way  to  get  it  to  you.  Our  long 
Aquaintance,  &  as  I  have  Reason  to  con 
clude,  our  near  Friendship  &  Connection 
create  in  me  a  Strong  Desire  of  letting 
you  know  that  Friendship  has  not  abated 
on  my  Part,  hope  it  has  not  on  Yours  & 
that  I  ardently  desire  to  hear  from  you,  & 
know  Somithing  about  you,  how  you  are, 
where  you  are  &  of  your  State  of  Health, 
I  Suppose  let  you  be  where  You  will  You 
have  the  Satisfaction  of  the  Company  & 


fjtmtington  fitters.  213 


Society  of  your  Childred,  who  in  Case 
they  have  that  filial  Respect  for  you  that 
markt  thare  former  Conduckt  towards  you 
it  must  yeld  You  an  agreable  Satisfaction 
&  Consolation  in  your  Solitary  State  let 
You  be  in  what  part  of  the  World  So 
ever.  I  part  with  one  near  Friend  after 
another  last  Week  I  attended  the  Fue- 
neral  of  my  Friend  the  Revd  mr  John 
Storrs,  whose  Company  and  Society  used 
in  time  pass  to  be  agreeable,  liveing  lattar- 
ly  in  the  Same  Society.  Your  Sister  con 
tinues  much  in  the  Same  State  She  was  in 
before  you  went  to  the  Westward,  except 
that  her  Fitts  are  more  frequent  tho  not  So 
hard,  Was  Advised  last  Winter  by  Sundry 
Phisicians  to  take  a  lengthey  Journey  with 
her  into  the  Cuntry,  accordingly  this 
Spring  I  let  out  my  Farm  disengaged  my 
Self  from  Buisnes  &  Set  out  on  the  28th 
of  May  last  to  the  Northward,  We  Steard 
our  Course  to  Strike  Connecticut  River 
as  Soon  as  conveniant,  came  on  its  Banks 


betters. 


at  Infield  in  this  State  &  continued  on  the 
Bank  as  nearly  as  convenient  to  Lebanon 
Newhampshire  where  I  had  many  Friends 
&  Relatives  we  taried  there  allmost  a 
Week  &  then  passed  through  Dartmouth 
crossing  the  Bridg  there  &  proseeded 
Westward  part  of  the  Way  on  White 
River  to  Randolf  in  Vermont  on  our  Way 
there  we  past  by  Salle  &  Phyle  that  were 
Brother  Huntingtons  Childred,  as  allso 
Spencer  who  is  Setled  in  Lebanon  in  the 
Sadling  Buisness  on  the  River,  Salle  in  a 
Town  called  Bethel,  and  Phile  in  Norwich 
all  of  which  are  in  comfortable  Health, 
But  at  Randolf  I  found  my  Brother  Aaron 
&  Sister  &  other  Friends  where  we  Taried 
for  about  three  Weeks  on  a  good  Soil  & 
among  a  very  Industrious  People,  It  is  but 
17  Years  Since  they  began  to  Settle  here 
they  have  now  2  Companies  of  Trained 
Soldjers  of  more  than  74  Men  in  each, 
likewise  an  Artilery  Compy  &  a  Cannon 
made  of  wrought  Iron  about  3  Feet  in 


215 


Length,  mounted  on  Cariage  which  on  the 
4th  July  they  put  to  Service,  that  Day 
they  Observd  in  as  conspiciuous  a  Manner 
as  is  observd  in  New  York  or  Philadel 
phia  &  in  Immitation  of  those  Places. 
You  are  Sensable  there  is  a  Mountiain 
passing  about  N  &  S  through  the  State 
of  Vermont  on  the  E  Side  the  Mountain 
they  are  allmost  unanimously  good  loyal 
Federalists,  love  their  Cuntry,  are  Indus 
trious  &  healthy  &  Despise  the  Polloticks 
of  the  W  Side  who.  many  of  them  are 
Jacobites  or  Ante  Federalists  as  is  Said, 
But  Vermont  is  a  fine  growing  State 
they  really  have  a  most  excellent  Soil  for 
Wheat  &  Grazing  it  does  now  allmost  & 
will  Soon  excel  any  State  in  the  Union  for 
Raising  excellent  Horse  &  Cattle  &  most 
excellent  for  Dayries  It  is  not  uncommon 
for  their  Cows  to  fill  a  common  pail  at  a 
Meal  &  more,  20  Cows  will  yield  20  Pails 
of  Milk,  or  their  abouts,  of  the  best  which 
you  are  Sensable  makes  the  best  Butter 


216  ftlje  §untin0ton  Betters. 

or  Cheese  ....  But  I  am  wearing  You  I 
Doubt  with  Observations  on  Vermont .  . 
After  we  had  taried  there  about  3  Weeks 
We  Sot  out  towards  Home  came  down 
White  River  crost  the  Bridg  at  Dart 
mouth  came  back  to  Lebanon  New  Hamp 
shire  where  we  taried  about  2  Weeks 
among  our  Friends  &  Aquaintance  while 
we  were  there  I  heard  Mr  Aaron  Cleave- 
land  Preach  in  that  Place,  who  has  a 
lisence  for  Preaching  &  makes  that  his 
Buisnes.  .  .  After  finishing  our  Visit  in 
Lebanon  we  Sat  off  down  the  River  came 
on  the  E  Side  to  Wallpole  where  we  crost 
on  the  Bridg  &  came  on  the  W  Side  as 
far  as  Northampton  then  took  a  Post  or  a 
Turnpike  Road  &  Traveld  West  about  40 
Miles  to  Pitts  Field,  Thence  through  Bar- 
rington  Stockbridg  &  Lenox  to  Sandis- 
field  to  my  Brother  Eleazar  where  we 
taried  about  a  Week  &  then  Returned 
Home  through  Hartford  got  Home  about 
the  midle  of  August,  your  Sister  was  bet- 


£etters.  217 


ter  while  on  our  Journey,  tho  had  Some 
poor  Turns  &  Seemd  better  for  a  time 
after  our  Return  Home,  But  her  ill  Turns 
Still  continue  &  I  know  not  now  that  She 
is  better  than  when  we  Sot  out  on  our 
Journey  —  However  Despicable  the  State 
of  Newhampshire  might  be  in  their  In 
fancy,  I  Some  how  or  other  have  got 
mutch  attacht  to  their  Manners  &  Gov 
ernment  I  had  an  Oppertunity  of  Seeing 
their  last  revised  Laws  &  the  Journals  of 
their  Assemblies  for  two  Sessions  I  think 
they  Discover  as  great  Wisdom  Justice 
Regularity  &  Prudence  as  any  State  on 
the  Continent  I  must  confess  more  pleas 
ing  to  me  &  I  think  the  Subjects  are 
happey  under  a  Wise  Administration  of 
Government,  While  at  Lebanon,  I  Visited 
our  old  Friend  Col°  Pain  whose  head  is 
ornamented  with  those  Silver  Locks  that 
adorn  the  old  Man,  he  retains  the  Frank- 
nes  &  Hospitallity  which  markt  his  Car- 
ackter  in  younger  years  —  tells  me  that  he 


218  ffttje  4Ijtttttingt0n 


Intends  to  obtain  a  Turnpike  Road  from 
Portsmouth  to  Dartmouth  to  pass  near  his 
Hous  &  then  he  has  done  with  all  publick 
Buisnes  .  .  I  believe  that  we  Scarsly  past 
any  Town  either  goeing  up  along  the 
River  or  in  the  State  of  Vermont  &  So 
on  to  Pittsfield  &  through  Harrington  but 
in  allmost  &  I  know  not  but  in  quite,  every 
one,  their  is  a  revival  of  Religion  espe 
cially  among  the  younger  Sort  of  People, 
Some  Places  more  &  Some  less,  They  As 
semble  in  Conferences  (1/2)  a  Day  in  a  Week 
&  perhaps  one  or  two  evenings  in  each 
Week.  Old  Mr  Tim0  Allen  with  whome 
we  taried  one  Night  Says  he  thinks  So 
general  a  Concarn  on  the  Minds  of  the 
People  indicates  that  the  Days  of  Mileni- 
um  are  comminsing.  —  We  have  had  I  be 
lieve  with  us  a  fruitfull  Summer  &  plenti- 
full  Harvest,  But  I  believe  the  Demands 
in  Market  are  but  small  —  I  have  not  ben 
in  Norwich  Since  you  went  from  there  & 
have  not  heard  anything  More  from  you 


£etters.  219 


than  that  the  Water  at  the  Pool  in  New 
Lebanon  was  Some  benefit  to  you,  I  really 
am  Desirous  of  hearing  from  you  &  your 
dear  Children  with  You,  Your  Sister  De 
sires  to  be  rememberd  to  You  £  to  your 
Children  &  wants  to  hear  from  them  & 
from  you  in  Case  it  may  be  Agreeable.  — 
Friends  at  three  or  fourscore  years  old  I 
think  are  necesitated  to  Retain  their  So 
ciety  &  Friendship,  for  enexorable  Death 
is  continually  lopping  off  one  after  an 
other,  untill  by  our  Age  We  have  but 
few  of  our  Cotemporariries  left,  he  that 
lives  the  longest  has  the  Most  Friends 
generally  to  Bemoan,  But  that  my  dear 
Sir  is  not  much  Matter  provided  we  So 
live  here  that  we  may  meet  in  a  better 
World  than  this,  where  all  the  Interven 
tions  of  Friendship  Shall  cease  &  We 
Shall  Se  as  we  are  Seen  &  know  as  we 
are  known,  I  Still  continue  in  great  Meas 
ure  confind  at  Home,  very  rarely  go 

abroad  without  Mre   Storrs  &  am  allmost 
15 


220  ®l)e  Bunting  ton  £etters. 

Discouraged  with  respect  to  her  ever 
ariveing  to  a  comfortable  State  of  Health, 
But  as  my  Name  is  pritty  much  So  has 
the  Visisitudes  of  Fortune  ben  with  me 
through  Life,  But  it  is  true  in  general 
that  Experience  is  the  best  Schole  Master, 
but  unless  I  make  a  profitable  Improve 
ment  of  the  advers  Dispensations  of  Prov 
idence  towards  me,  these  Troubles  I  now 
feel  &  are  (daily  conversant)  with,  will  be 
greatly  to  my  hurt  &  Disadvantage — I 
hope  in  Case  (this  letter)  reaches  You 
that  you  will  be  kind  enough  to  to  let  me 
hear  from  my  ever  dear  Friend.  untill 
then  I  remain  Dear  Sir  your  near  Friend 
&  Affectionate 

Brother        EXP  STORKS 

HONBLE    BENJN    HUNTINGTON   ESQ 


THE   END. 


r 


45564 


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